Barren County secures federal funding for Ag Expo Center

CAVE CITY, Ky. – Barren County officials are celebrating a victory in Cave City as the ball is continuing to move on the planned AG Expo Center.

The center will focus on agricultural events like equine competitions, cattle shows and other events like demolition derbies. Barren County officials say that they are conducting a study to measure the economic impact that the center will have, and expects it to have a very positive impact on the community.

“We actually we have another study that we started, to to continue from the first study to finish it out, to prove the tourism impact and job opportunity creation, because, like I said, turning the seasonal opportunity of full time and that will be able to help us to we’re going after some new market tax credits also to increase that 20 million to hopefully $25, $26 million. This project is going to be a massive impact to the not just, like I said, Barren County, but just surrounding counties,” said Barren County judge executive Jamie Bewley Byrd.

The federal government has played a big role in securing funding to build, with Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office securing $20 million federal dollars in funding.

State officials are also looking forward to this new center as a drive for tourism in the number one agricultural county in the state.

“So the location is great, for an expo center to be here. You know, we’re halfway between Louisville and Nashville. We’re in the center of the state of Kentucky, so the location is perfect for it to have here. And we have the people, I think, in line that will run this operation the way it needs to be. And I think this is just, great for Barren County, Cave City and the entire state of Kentucky. So we’re very excited about it,” said State Rep. Steve Riley who represent Barren County in Frankfort.

McConnell was in Cave City celebrating the new funding with local officials, but as McConnell is gearing up to leave office, he remains confident that rural counties like Barren County will continue to see growth and solid representation at every level.

“Congressman Guthrie is chairman of a very important committee on the House, very smart, very plugged in. One of our other Congressmen,  Congressman Comer, I think, is running for governor. So I expect he’ll be coming a new best friend. And, so I think there’s still going to be plenty of elected officials who will help,” McConnell said.

There is no set timeline for the AG Expo Center just yet, but officials say they are expecting to open up sometime in 2028.