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Photo: Bluegrass Supply Chain Services
Gov. Matt Bevin announced Bluegrass Supply Chain Services LLC, a third-party logistics provider for the automotive and food and beverage industries, will invest more than $3.35 million and create 51 jobs at two locations: a new operation in Edmonson County and upgrades at its Bullitt County facility.
“Bluegrass Supply Chain Services has been a customer-focused and high-growth employer in Kentucky for the past 15 years,” Gov. Bevin said. “Their decision to open a fourth location in the commonwealth and to reinvest in an existing facility is a compliment to Kentucky’s leadership in the distribution and logistics sectors. I congratulate BSCS and thank its leaders for their continued confidence in Kentucky.”
The company will invest more than $1.78 million to lease and upfit a building in Park City for office and warehouse space, and more than $1.57 million for similar upgrades in Shepherdsville. The projects will create 27 and 24 full-time positions, respectively.
“We are thrilled to continue our growth and expansion in the Shepherdsville area,” said John Higgins, president of BSCS. “This incentive program provides a mechanism for Bluegrass to compete with other companies outside of Kentucky.”
Headquartered in Bowling Green and founded in 2002, BSCS provides warehousing, quality support, light assembly and transportation management services to customers across four states. In addition to its Bowling Green and Shepherdsville locations, BSCS operates a 49-job facility in Russellville. The new jobs will bring its total Kentucky employment to about 590.
Sen. Dan “Malano” Seum, of Fairdale, bid the company well as it expands its presence in the region.
“It’s a great day for our city and our state when a local employer decides to expand its operations,” Sen. Seum said. “I thank Bluegrass Supply Chain Services for this new investment in Shepherdsville and wish the company all the best in its future endeavors.”
Rep. Dan Johnson, of Mt. Washington, said the state’s efforts to attract business are producing results.
“Bluegrass Supply’s significant expansion in Shepherdsville is fantastic news for Bullitt County, and will bring more jobs and increased opportunity to our area,” Rep. Johnson said. “The legislature’s work to make Kentucky more business friendly is already paying off for our workers, and I applaud the Governor for his continuing efforts to bring more investment to the commonwealth.”
Shepherdsville Mayor Curtis Hockenbury pointed out the significance of keeping business in Kentucky.
“I am always pleased to see a company that is in Shepherdsville expand, because it shows its faith in our community and our workers,” Mayor Hockenbury said. “It is an even greater thrill to have a Kentucky based company firmly believe in our city.”
Bullitt County Judge-Executive Melanie J. Roberts said the community welcomes the expansion with open arms.
“Bluegrass Supply Chain Services has shown a dedication to our community and we must admire the social conscience of its philosophies. The citizens of the county want to welcome this new investment and the job opportunities it provides,” Judge-Executive Roberts said. “We are glad to welcome more automotive-related jobs to the county, thus diversifying our employment base.”
Sen. David Givens, of Greensburg, believes the company will be a great fit for Park City.
“I am pleased to hear Bluegrass Supply Chain Services chose Park City for its newest location,” Sen. Givens said. “I know our region will serve this company well with a centralized location, strong workforce potential and a business-friendly economic climate, and I look forward to the company’s success in the region.”
Rep. Steve Riley, of Glasgow, expressed enthusiasm about the added job opportunities for the community.
“Since entering public office, attracting more jobs and higher levels of investment has been a top priority of mine, and I am glad to see that a company like Bluegrass Supply sees value in our area,” Rep Riley said. “This exciting announcement only adds to the positive economic news that we have been seeing across the state, and I look forward to seeing more in the future.”
Edmonson County Judge-Executive Wil Cannon welcomed the news.
“This is great news for Edmonson County,” Judge-Executive Cannon said. “This will be the third factory that will be operating in our county. We appreciate the opportunity for our citizens to have a job closer to home. On behalf of Edmonson County and our industrial authority, we thank everyone who assisted in making this happen.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in May preliminarily approved BSCS for tax incentives up to $300,000 for each project through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
In addition, BSCS can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal 2016, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for nearly 95,000 Kentuckians and 5,000 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
For more information on Bluegrass Supply Chain Services, visit www.bluegrass-scs.com.
A detailed community profile for Edmonson and Bullitt counties can be viewed at http://bit.ly/EdmonsonCo and http://bit.ly/BullittCo.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.
Insurance carriers have submitted proposed rates to the Department of Insurance (DOI) for 2018 in Kentucky’s individual and small group markets. In a continuing trend tied to market forces, an aging population, and systemic instability and uncertainty injected by the failure of Obamacare, the proposed rates reflect substantial year-over-year increases ranging from 6.5% to 47.7% depending on the plan. In addition to increased rates, preliminary filings suggest Kentuckians will have limited options on the healthcare exchange. In some counties, there will be only one option for individual coverage and no exchange offerings will be available in the small group market.
“The health insurance marketplace has been ripe with uncertainty and instability since the implementation of Obamacare,” said DOI Commissioner Nancy Atkins. “Year-after-year, Kentuckians are experiencing the fallout from bad policy, and the rate increases reflected in this year’s filings are, unfortunately, commonplace for most states.”
In an effort to reduce the magnitude of these proposed rate increases, DOI exercised its available flexibility within federal mandates to extend the submission date for initial rate filings on two separate occasions. These extensions permitted carriers additional time to fully evaluate the 2018 market. In addition, DOI proactively provided insurers with marketplace information specific to Kentucky.
“DOI has emphasized to carriers that the best possible outcomes for Kentucky consumers must be achieved,” added Atkins. “Obamacare’s failure at the federal level combined with the collapse of the Kentucky Health Cooperative under the Beshear Administration placed a substantial strain on the state’s entire healthcare matrix which continues to impact the current stability of the marketplace.”
DOI cautions the filings are preliminary and subject to change. Experienced DOI health analysts and actuaries will closely evaluate the rate request applications before rates are finalized on or before August 16, 2017. Although rate requests are generally indicative of rate increases for consumers, individual premiums will depend on a variety of factors, including age, smoking habits, and geographic location. Open enrollment for plan year 2018 begins November 1, 2017.
The preliminary 2018 rate filings are available online on the Kentucky Department of Insurance website at http://insurance.ky.gov/ratefil/default.aspx.
The Kentucky Department of Insurance regulates the Commonwealth’s insurance market, licenses agents and other insurance professionals, monitors the financial condition of companies, educates consumers to make wise choices, and ensures Kentuckians are treated fairly in the marketplace. To learn more about DOI, visit http://insurance.ky.gov/.
Gov. Matt Bevin has issued an executive order expanding the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship to include Kentuckians who do not have a high school diploma but are working to achieve their GED concurrent with skills education.
“The central idea of the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship is to get thousands of adults to the first or second rung of a high demand career ladder,” said Education and Workforce Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner. “It’s extremely important that we remove as many barriers as possible to this process, and for thousands of Kentuckians, that barrier is not having a high school diploma.”
The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program was designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled workers in five of Kentucky’s fastest-growing workforce industries:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Business and IT
- Construction Trades
- Healthcare
- Transportation and Logistics
The scholarship provides tuition for up to 32 credit hours for eligible Kentuckians who have not yet earned at least an associate’s degree and are seeking certificates or diplomas in one of these five industries.
Those wishing to pursue their career certification in tandem with obtaining a GED can do so through the Accelerating Opportunity Kentucky program offered through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
You can learn more about the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship through helpwantedky.com, including eligibility requirements, participating colleges and universities, and certificates and diplomas available in each of the five industries.
“Helpwantedky.com, as well as the Help Wanted Kentucky Facebook and Twitter pages are channels for adults in Kentucky, regardless of age, to learn about jobs that pay well and are in high demand,” said Heiner.
In one of her first official site visits since taking the helm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Dr. Anne Schuchat met with public health officials in Kentucky to discuss various programs and policies impacting the state’s public health system. Dr. Schuchat, CDC’s acting director, participated in day-long activities with staff from the Department for Public Health (DPH), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), related to Kentucky’s opioid and drug overdose epidemic as well as sessions dealing with health data and analytics.
“I appreciate the chance to learn from the partnerships and programs that Kentucky has established to tackle the opioid epidemic and other public health challenges, said Dr. Schuchat, following her visit to Kentucky. “Hearing from people from public health, academia, coalitions, and public safety made a strong impression on me of the crucial role that partnerships play in protecting people’s health in Kentucky.”
“We were tremendously honored to host Dr. Schuchat in Kentucky today and greatly appreciate her time and invaluable insights into the American public health system,” said CHFS Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson. “The opioid epidemic is the number one public health crisis facing Kentucky. It is extremely beneficial for us to be able to share information and collaborate with CDC leadership on these issues as we work toward building a healthier state.”
Dr. Schuchat began her public health career in 1988 when she came to CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. She was principal deputy director of CDC during 2015-2017 and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases from 2006-2015. She was promoted to Rear Admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service in 2006 and earned a second star in 2010. Dr. Schuchat was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) in 2008.
Dr. Schuchat has played key roles in a number of CDC emergency responses. Most notably, she served as Chief Health Officer for CDC’s 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza response; led the CDC team responding to the SARS outbreak in Beijing in 2003; and supported the Washington D.C. field team during the 2001 bioterrorist anthrax response.
“She has a unique overview of medicine and health in America and strong ideas about public health as an important profession,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Hiram C. Polk, Jr.
The sessions were held in DPH. Sec. Glisson, Deputy Secretary Judge Timothy Feeley, DPH Commissioner Dr. Hiram Polk and public health experts from across the Commonwealth got a chance to speak with the acting director about Kentucky’s relationship with the CDC and her plans for the agency.
Photo: Kentucky Artisan Center
Kentucky Artisans interpret the world – and the Kentucky Artisan Center is illustrating that fact with sand, in the amazing sculpture “The Sands of Time” by internationally known sand sculptor Damon Farmer.
Farmer states, “My long-time avocation of sculpting sand gradually blossomed into a major aspect of my commercial work, and it now provides me opportunities to share my favorite art form worldwide.”
Directly in front of the Center on a circle of pavement, Farmer has sculpted 10 tons of compacted wet sand into a montage of portraits and scenes from Kentucky’s rich history. Included in the artist’s design are images of Abraham Lincoln, bourbon, horses, Daniel Boone and even Natural Bridge! The sculpture will be on display through July 15 at the Center.
Todd Finley, executive director of the Center states, “We are excited to invite travelers and people throughout the region to come and see how art and history have joined forces – and to see how sand can be turned into an amazing three dimensional sculpture of Kentucky history!”
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 200 Artisan Way, just off Interstate 75 at Berea Exit 77. The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are open daily, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information about center events call 859-985-5448, go to the center’s website, or visit the center’s Facebook page.
Photo: State Treasurer website
Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball won a major victory in court when Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd granted her request to participate in the ongoing lawsuit filed by former Kentucky Retirement Systems Board member Tommy Elliott.
“This is a real victory for Kentucky taxpayers and retirees,” Treasurer Ball said in a statement. “The courts recognized that, as Treasurer, I have the responsibility and legal authority to make sure that every taxpayer and retiree dollar is being spent legally. In a time that Kentucky’s retirement system is in crisis, Mr. Elliott’s actions not only violate the law, but they are incredibly wasteful and irresponsible. I would hope that he would stop spending hundreds of thousands of Kentucky retiree pensions on personal vendettas.”
Mr. Elliott is currently using Kentucky retiree pension dollars to fund his lawsuit against Governor Bevin. Governor Bevin removed Mr. Elliott from the KRS board last year, and Mr. Elliott sought legal counsel to contest his removal. Former Kentucky Retirement Systems director William Thielen initially approved Mr. Elliott’s request to use Kentucky retiree pension funds to pursue his claims against Governor Bevin’s administrator, causing Treasurer Ball to sue due to constitutional spending issues. Interim Director David Eager has stopped making payments on Mr. Elliott’s legal bills, while waiting for the court to rule on Treasurer Ball’s arguments.
The Attorney General is also involved in the case, arguing on Mr. Elliott’s behalf with regard to his removal, which underscores the Treasurer’s argument that Mr. Elliott’s is needlessly spending pension dollars. “To have two parties arguing the exact same issue from the exact same perspective is a huge waste of resources,” Treasurer Ball’s General Counsel, Noah Friend, said. “Especially when one of those parties is trying to foot the bill with hard-earned retiree pension money.”
Kentucky is currently facing a pension crisis and elected officials are looking for ways to make sure Kentucky’s public pension systems are fully funded.
“I will always advocate for legal and proper spending,” Treasurer Ball said. “It’s this kind of financial misadventure that put us in this pension crisis in the first place. I hope that Judge Shepherd’s decision causes Mr. Elliott to reconsider his approach to this litigation, with an eye towards stopping the pointless and wasteful draining of retirement funds.”
The next meeting of the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission will take place at 1 p.m. (EDT) Thursday, July 6 at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Conference Center, 200 Mero Street, Frankfort. The commission is administratively attached to the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office.
Commission members are Helen Danser, Tyner, Chair; Angela M. Arnett, Waynesburg; John P. Bowes, A. Gwynn Henderson, David Pollack and Anne Wood, Lexington; Dwight R. Cropper, South Portsmouth; Michael Dunn, Cynthia L. Isbell and Rep. Reginald Meeks, Louisville; David Lee Fallis, Frankfort; Deanna Jessie, Olive Hill; Susan Mullins, Berea; Christopher A. Robinson, Richmond; and William St. Pierre, Villa Hills.
The commission was established to recognize and promote Native American contributions and influence in Kentucky’s history and culture.
Meetings are open to the public and an agenda will be provided. For more information, contact Tressa Brown, Kentucky Native American Heritage Coordinator, at 502-564-7005, ext. 4467.
