Unity Begins
Barren and Glasgow leaders met with several state players last week to discuss plans for the community’s future. Pictured above, from left: State Representative, Steve Riley; Barren Inc. President & CEO, Maureen Carpenter; Kentucky Secretary of Transportation, Jim Gray; local business representative, Larry Glass; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear; Barren County Judge/Executive, Jamie Byrd; Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse; and Beshear’s Chief of Staff, LaTasha Buckner. Photo Submitted
Allyson Dix
Jobe Publishing Reporter
Community leaders collaborated together and headed to Frankfort to represent Barren County to meet with key officials at the state level on Jan. 19.
“The purpose of these meetings was to introduce the newly elected officials and share the positive momentum happening in Barren County,” said Maureen Carpenter, President and CEO of Barren Inc.
Those who traveled to Frankfort last Thursday were: Barren County State Representative Steve Riley, Barren County Judge/Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd, Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse, Barren Inc President and CEO Maureen Carpenter, and local business representative Larry Glass
In a comment via e-mail on Jan. 23 to the Barren County Progress (BCP), Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said, “ It was a great meeting, where everyone pledged to work together for the betterment of Barren County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We discussed economic development, as well as transportation and infrastructure projects.”
Carpenter said several items were discussed that incorporate the common vision shared by the community and being present in Frankfort demonstrates that the leadership of our community is committed to working together.
The five met with several in Frankfort including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray, and Secretary for Economic Development Jeff Noel.
Riley told the BCP that it is imperative that our leaders have open communication with Frankfort.
“We are one of 120 counties that are competing for various ways to improve our community,” Riley said, “I feel like the meetings were very productive and a first step in the process for our newly elected officials to have an open dialogue with state leaders in the efforts to make Barren County an even better place for our citizens to live.”
“Everything we talked about was important for the future of Barren County,” Carpenter said, “We have come far in the last three years building a foundation for economic growth.”
Carpenter additionally said this is the first time in her three years here in Barren County that they have gone to Frankfort to meet with key leaders together.
“It’s never about what one person can do,” Byrd said, “It’s about what we can do collectively as a team.”
Byrd said the experience was a rewarding one to see a collective effort from all sides.
“It was a rewarding experience to meet with colleagues on both sides of the political aisle when we all only had one thing in mind–the prosperity, growth, and revitalization of our community,” Byrd said.
“I am excited about the new relationship being demonstrated by our County and City of Glasgow leadership and for their partnership with Barren Inc,” Carpenter also said.
This is just the first of many trips, Byrd said.
Carpenter added, “I believe this will become a more regular occurrence.”
She also said, “I am confident that working together towards common goals for the community will have a significant impact.”
“Now we are demonstrating unity and a common vision that our leadership at the state level can help support,” Carpenter concluded.
