Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:08 AM Page 991

A Community Profile published by Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 992 Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 1 Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 2

4 There’s Never Been a Better Time to Invest in Owensboro 9 You Can Bank on Owensboro 10 Creating Economic Success by Investing in Education 11 Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Honored as Nation’s Best 12 A Strategy for a Changing Economy 14 Arts Help Owensboro Thrive 15 Multimodal Logistics in the Center of the United States 16 Owensboro’s 25 Largest Employers 16 One of the Top 50 Sports Towns in America

A Community Profile Published by

This special advertising report is published by Lane Communications Group 201 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 244-3500 lanereport.com

Editorial content provided by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce was written by Tracy McQueen Marksberry Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 3 Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 4

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Invest in Owensboro Downtown Owensboro attracts thousands to its annual International Bar-B-Q Festival.

Payne expects the transformation to get Owensboro noticed, not only in Ken- tucky but across the nation. Leaders have crafted a careful plan, taking lessons from communities such as Dubuque, Iowa, home to one of the country’s premier riverfronts. “I made the com- ment that they were 10 years ahead of us, but we’re going to pass them in five,” Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne Payne said. The renaissance is the result of local leadership, federal funds and smart con- sultants. The project along the Ohio River has been discussed for years but was pro- BY TRACY McQUEEN MARKSBERRY convention center and $20 million hotel pelled by the promise of $40 million in in 2013. Owensboro Medical Health Sys- federal funds in 2005. Payne was elected WENSBORO is in the midst tem, the region’s largest employer, will on a platform of progress in 2008 and led an amazing makeover, with open a new $385 million hospital on the the charge to implement an $80 million more than $700 million in ex- city’s east side the same year, along with plan to do even more downtown with in- citing projects underway. major transportation improvements, mak- creases in the city and county insurance OAn $80 million downtown redevel- ing 2013 very lucky indeed. premium taxes. opment plan is taking shape, with River- “I used to say we’re revitalizing down- Nick Brake, president and CEO of front Crossing expected to open later this town. I stopped saying that,” said Mayor the Greater Owensboro Economic Devel- year. Major initiatives will follow quickly, Ron Payne. “We’re revitalizing the entire including the opening of a $27 million city of Owensboro.”

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In the ‘Sweet Spot’ Q&A: Entrepreneurs Larry and Rosemary Conder discuss investing in downtown Owensboro

Why did you decide to invest How important were the public in downtown Owensboro? improvements to your decision Owensboro is home for us in every sense of to invest downtown? the word. We had investments in mutual We are determined to see projects we funds from around the globe. We decided start completed and are totally in support to pull some of those funds and invest in of the public investment in downtown. home. Our reasons are essentially selfish. Seeing the riverfront park and Riverfront We love Owensboro and want to see it pros- Crossing plans were critical to our per and grow. And we have grandchildren continued investment. we hope to see live, work and play here. How confident are you that your How much property do you investment will pay off? own downtown? We are totally confident. With the reloca- We currently own The Creme Coffee House tion and expansion of the Bluegrass at 109 E. Second St.; Crowne Gifts and Center and the Events Center project, we Events at 107 E. Second St.; the historic will have a tourist destination to rival any Smith Werner Building at 116-122 W. Sec- city. It is wonderful to see us recognize the ond St.; vacant lots at 124 and 126 W. Sec- importance of our river and music history. Larry and Rosemary Conder, their son-in-law John Condray and daughter Adrianne Condray. ond St.; a building at 221 St. Ann St. across from the courthouse and buildings at 101 What recommendations would and 103 W. Third St. and 224 Allen St. you have for others considering an increases each year. We feel we are in the investment in downtown Owensboro? “sweet spot” for investment in downtown. How much have you invested? Now is the time to invest. It is true the We are encouraging any local and national We have invested approximately $2.5 initial cost of renovation of historic property venture capitalist to look at the incredible million in property and revitalization. is higher, but the value of the property potential of investing in Owensboro.

opment Corp., said the community has community more attractive to visitors and worked closely with some of the best con- new residents. Although they faced con- sultants from around the country to de- troversy over the tax increase, Brake said velop a placemaking initiative to make the the community is fortunate to have bold leaders who saw value in investing down- town. City and county leaders joined forces in the midst of a national recession to make it all happen. “This is our front door. Downtown is the center of commerce,” said former Daviess Keith Free, Owensboro director of community County Judge-Executive Reid Haire. “If we development, explains the riverfront were going to do anything to move this com- redevelopment project to a small crowd munity forward, we had to start downtown.” during a tour in fall 2010. Construction is well under way on a walkway that will connect RiverPark Cen- To the west of McConnell Plaza lies ter, Owensboro’s performing arts center, 17 acres on the river, ripe for development. and Mitch McConnell Plaza, which in- It is the site of the former Executive Inn cludes a gazebo and other public gather- Rivermont, which the city purchased and ing spaces. Along the new walkway, demolished to make way for a new and im- Smothers Park will be expanded from less proved downtown. than an acre to more than three acres and Owensboro builder Benny Clark has a a signature fountain will be constructed. special fondness for riverfront developments, Riverfront redevelopment including “When people come down that river, I and he is the first to make major investments a new convention center, hotel and want them to immediately know it’s Owens- in downtown residential developments. Clark performing arts center is part of an boro,” Payne said. “That river was a signifi- has already constructed two upscale condo- $80 million downtown redevelopment plan now underway on 17 acres. cant part of our past. We’re working to make minium communities on the riverfront and it a significant part of our future.” hopes to do much more. The Lane Report’s Greater Owensboro Community Profile 5 Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 6

Construction on the new Owensboro riverfront plaza area in November 2010. Mark Green photo

“We know that will work. There’s not ment is “one of the most critical if not “If you have an opportunity to live any other community anywhere close to here the most critical” elements of downtown downtown, you should do it,” Kathy Novick that has 17 acres downtown to do what we’re redevelopment. said. “You’re at the epicenter of everything.” going to do,” Clark said. “We have the best Sandy and Kathy Novick were Local leaders hope that $80 million in opportunity for growth ever.” pleased to find Rivercrest, Clark’s newest public investment will inspire private en- Downtown Development Director riverfront development, when they moved terprise to go downtown for both com- Fred Reeves said residential develop- to Owensboro from Michigan. mercial and residential uses. Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 7

Artist’s rendering of the 447-bed $385 million Owensboro Medical Health System hospital scheduled for completion in 2013.

The latest plans call for a $27 mil- lion convention and events center on the former Executive Inn Rivermont prop- erty, with part of it overlooking the Ohio River. It will be flanked by a $20 million, 150-room Hampton Inn and Suites hotel, developed by The Malcolm Bryant Corp. The 60,000-s.f. former state building, which the city purchased for $1.1 million, is under consideration as the new home for an expanded International Bluegrass Music Museum and Center. Newly elected Daviess County Judge- Executive Al Mattingly is optimistic struction jobs but also more business for local The largest project is Owensboro Med- about the future. restaurants, hotels and other businesses,” said ical Health System’s $385 million hospital, “It will be spectacular. It’s exciting. Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce scheduled for completion in 2013. Also under Things are happening in Owensboro,” Mat- President Jody Wassmer. “Cranes in the air construction is a $37 million extension of the tingly said. “People are starting to look to the are generally good for everyone.” U.S. Bypass, which will go right by the new future again. I think everything going on in While much of the excitement is hospital. The bypass extension will be the Owensboro reinforces that.” downtown, Owensboro’s makeover doesn’t final link to a new 100-mile, four-lane corri- Local businesses are equally optimistic. stop there. dor through the heart of Daviess County, con- “All the building taking place and “There are things happening every- necting I-64 in southern Indiana to I-65 in planned in the next few years means con- where,” Payne said. south-central Kentucky. Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 8 OMHS photo

Construction began in summer 2010 munity that offers more than just a job,” Louisville’s Jewish Hospital Heart and on the 447-bed $385 million Owensboro Medical Health System hospital scheduled Brake said. “I feel like our community has Lung Institute and is home to the Owens- for completion in 2013. really moved forward in a big way.” boro Cancer Research Program, a joint Already one of the state’s largest hos- venture with James Graham Brown Cancer U.S. Bank has also announced a major pitals, Owensboro Medical Health System Center at the University of Louisville. expansion. In 2001, a one-time Owens- (OMHS) has broken ground on a new 447- boro start-up became U.S. Bank’s national bed hospital that will solidify Owensboro mortgage-servicing center. By early 2010, as a regional medical hub. it began planning for a new building to ac- The $385 million facility is exciting At the Cancer Center, UofL scientists commodate 500 additional workers. Local news for OMHS, which is the region’s are conducting groundbreaking research leaders worked with state officials to de- largest employer, with more than 3,300 peo- linked to the plant biotech industry and velop incentives that helped convince U.S. ple on its payroll. The institution’s aggres- Kentucky BioProcessing. Bank to grow in Owensboro. sive leadership and growth has fueled a shift To maintain a highly trained work- Brake said he is confident the com- in the regional economy toward an empha- force for the future, OMHS offers numer- munity’s multi-faceted approach for sis on healthcare and the life sciences. ous educational programs, including one growth will pay off. OMHS operates a full-service hospi- that allows regional students to earn a “You’ve got to be in a place where tal- tal, providing the services of 200 physi- baccalaureate nursing degree from the ent wants to be. Placemaking creates that cians. The hospital provides premier heart UofL School of Nursing without leaving environment. You’ve got to have a com- services through its partnership with Owensboro. ● OMHS photo OMHS photo

Left: Dr. Chris Toler, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, with the minimally invasive da Vinci Surgical System at Owensboro Medical Health System. Above: UofL James Graham Brown Cancer Center research takes place in Owensboro with funding from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and a match from the state Bucks For Brains program.

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FINANCE

erage of 1 percent. Independence Bank’s You Can Bank on Owensboro assets grew by 13 percent the past year compared to average growth of 3 percent WENSBORO financial leaders reported by its peer banks. won’t let dismal national headlines The region has seen growth through- Odampen their optimism. out the financial industry, from commu- Consider these facts: nity banks such as First Security and • U.S. Bank, which already employs Independence, to banks with a national more than 1,200 in Owensboro, has an- presence, such as BB&T, PNC, Republic nounced a major expansion of its national and Chase. The story of U.S. Bank’s mortgage service center. That expansion mortgage center began with local ideas will bring an addition 500 jobs. that eventually had national ramifications. • Independence Bank, locally based, Decades ago, Owensboro banker has outpaced its peer banks around the George Greenwell revolutionized the country in numerous categories, solidify- mortgage industry through a company ing its selection as the eighth best com- Owensboro-based Independence Bank that eventually became US Bank’s national models its buildings after Independence munity bank in the country by the Hall in Philadelphia. mortgage center, according to Nick Brake, American Bankers Association. president and CEO of the Greater Owens- • First Security Bank has announced a “Our business climate is improving. boro Economic Development Corp. major expansion of its Owensboro head- It’s certainly better than the national econ- “It really shows you how important en- quarters, adding to downtown excitement. omy,” said Darrell Higginbotham, Inde- trepreneurs are to your area,” Brake said. Banking leaders cited the attentiveness pendence Bank president in Daviess “We’re going to have more than 1,700 jobs of elected officials and members of the Greater County. “Clearly, Owensboro is faring bet- here as a result of this man’s innovation.” Owensboro Economic Development Corp. as ter than most of country.” Entrepreneurial spirit can be seen key to deciding to grow in Owensboro. Statistics from the FDIC indicate In- throughout the region’s financial institutions. A strong workforce and a central lo- dependence Bank’s loan portfolio grew 8 “The financial sector is a significant part cation also have contributed to Owens- percent last year, while portfolios for peer of our economy,” Brake said. “It really has al- boro’s growth as a major banking center. banks across the country declined by an av- lowed us to diversify our economy.” ● Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 10

EDUCATION Western Kentucky University opened an Owensboro campus in 2009.

go to those communities that not only focus on education but are willing to in- vest in education – investing their time, their energy and their money,” Haire said. “When we begin de- livering on the educa- tional goals, then the jobs will follow.” Haire said he felt a sense of urgency in Reid Haire, pursuing the project, former Daviess Creating Economic Success noting that the per- Judge-Executive centage of Owensboro residents with bach- by Investing in Education elor’s degrees is below both the state and national averages. HROUGH unprecedented coopera- – Brescia University and Kentucky Wesleyan “We have one of the highest percentages tion, Owensboro leaders have created College. Just last year, Western Kentucky of people with associate’s degrees, and yet, we Ta model for economic success University moved into an Owensboro campus have one of the lowest percentages of people through education. of its own through a partnership with Daviess with bachelor’s degrees,” Haire said. “Unless “I’m more opti- County government. The community also has we did something, we were signing our own mistic than I’ve ever Owensboro Community and Technical Col- death warrant. It was evident to me.” been about the future of lege (OCTC), one of Kentucky’s largest com- Brake, a former high school teacher our region,” said Nick munity and technical schools, as well as and college administrator, said he is en- Brake, president and Daymar College, a private career college. couraged by the cooperation he has seen CEO of the Greater Nearly 10,000 students took college among the community’s high schools as Owensboro Economic courses in Owensboro during the 2009-2010 well as its colleges. Development Corp. school year, and about half of them were full- The Community Campus is a partner- Nick Brake, president and CEO, Key initiatives time students. Expanded programs and facil- ship of several area school districts, the Uni- Greater Owensboro include the Commu- ities have fueled significant increases in versity of Kentucky, Western Kentucky Economic nity Campus, a multi- enrollment at all of those institutions. Col- University, OCTC, the EDC and several pri- Development Corp. district high-school lege officials expect that growth to continue vate-sector entities. High-demand skills will initiative that will allow students to grad- as they work together to promote Owensboro be part of curriculum that blends the last two uate better prepared for college and work. as a great place to go to college. years of high school with the first two years of The hope is that every high-school student With the opening of Western Kentucky postsecondary education at a community or will graduate with some college credit University’s new Owensboro campus, class of- technical college. through academies built around the jobs ferings are rapidly ex- “The high school is now the front line in that are in highest demand, Brake said. panding and attracting America’s and Owensboro’s battle to remain Owensboro’s public and private institu- more students. competitive on the international economic tions of higher learning are working together “This will be a true stage,” Brake said. “We don’t need to compete on another initiative called Owensboro U to regional campus,” West- locally. We need to compete globally.” make the community more attractive to col- ern President Gary Community Campus is part of The lege students. The community has long been Ransdell said. “Western Partnership for Next Generation Learning, a ● home to two award-winning private colleges Gary Ransdell, is committed to working national initiative to rethink education. president, Western with local officials to im- Kentucky University prove the quality of life in the community. Western is committed to seeing the Owensboro campus grow.” The building there was named for for- mer Daviess Judge-Executive Reid Haire, who boldly led the plan to construct the new building. County government agreed to fund the building, and Western agreed to provide the programs the community needed. “Based on what I see around the coun- Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro try, in those communities that are com- has been providing liberal arts education Brescia University, a private Catholic liberal arts for 152 years. petitive in the global market, success will institution, was founded in Owensboro in 1950. 10 The Lane Report’s Greater Owensboro Community Profile Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 11

CHAMBER Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Honored as Nation’s Best

HE Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce was named national T2010 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Execu- tives in August. The Chamber received the honor at the ACCE national conference in highlighted its involvement in the C- Milwaukee, Wis. LINK 12-chamber, ten-county alliance “This is the most that was formed in 2007 and has advo- prestigious honor cated for the development of Interstate 69 given each year to through western Kentucky. It also featured chambers of commerce the “Owensboro Buys It!” program that in the United States,” aligns small business “sellers” with large says Chamber Presi- local business “buyers” at an expo designed dent Jody Wassmer. to create local commerce. At the confer- “Winning it was the ence, Chamber President Jody Wassmer Jody Wassmer, and Operations Manager Ashley Bradshaw president, Greater top goal of our strate- Owensboro gic plan initiated by interviewed before a panel of three judges Chamber of our board of directors who then decided the winner. Commerce The 900-plus-member Greater Owensboro in early 2008.” The Greater Owensboro Chamber Chamber of Commerce came into existence in The Chamber was named a finalist for will celebrate its 100th year in 2013. It has 1913, succeeding a businessmen’s association the award last June in the $450,000 to 900 members, a board of 27 directors, five founded in 1893. The Greater Owensboro Chamber’s Owensboro Buys It! program, $900,000 annual revenue category based staff members and a contract lobbying shown above, creates commerce between on an application process. The Chamber team in Frankfort. ● local companies.

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ECONOMY A Strategy for a Changing Economy

HE concept that change is constant dates back to ancient philosophers, Tbut it has never been more evident than in the modern economy. “Owensboro has been successful in the last decade in shifting its economy away from dependence on manufacturing to an economy that is balanced between advanced manufacturing in the automo- tive and food sectors, finance (with the growth of U.S. Bank) and a growing re- gional healthcare and life science sector,” said Nick Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Develop- ment Corp. “As a result, Owensboro has not been hit as hard by the recession as Above: The 22,000-s.f. greenhouse facility many similarly sized towns.” at Kentucky BioProcessing. Owensboro leaders have positioned the Right: KBP was founded in 2006 by community to take advantage of its unique Owensboro Medical Health System. assets and establish the region as a world leader in biotechnology. Kentucky Biopro- Below: Life science specialty firm KBP induces plants such as tobacco to produce proteins cessing (and subsidiary of Owensboro Med- that become plant-made pharmaceuticals. ical Health System) is the world’s only full-scale facility for commercial production of plant-made pharmaceuticals. Using to- bacco plants, scientists attempt to produce life-saving drugs in a cost-effective manner. “It’s important to understand we set out not just to build a company but an industry,” said Hugh Haydon, Kentucky Bioprocess- ing chairman of the board and CEO. “We offer a unique service in a niche market.” In the five years since the Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS) purchased companies. Although the building is old, world’s food supply. The company can de- the bankrupt Large Scale Biology facility and the concept for the Centre for Business & tect a wide range of contaminants before transformed it into Kentucky Bioprocessing Research is new. Local government has in- those foods show up in your home, favorite (KBP), major pharmaceutical companies have vested about $3 million in the project to restaurants and grocery stores. taken notice. Spin-off companies have come transform the old warehouse into an accel- Kevin Humphrey, Hollison founder to Owensboro to be near KPB. While the erator for new high-tech businesses. and CEO, said his business would not be op- companies are small, Haydon said they have “It’s a one-of-a-kind amenity,” Brake erating now if it hadn’t been for the Centre. a tremendous potential for growth. said. “It’s providing infrastructure of the “It was a game changer. It could not Local officials created the Centre for 21st-century economy. We’re looking for have been more perfect,” Humphrey said. Business and Research to nurture those start-up businesses that are scalable, which If it hadn’t been for the Centre, he means they have the ability to grow and said his company would still be trying to create more jobs.” raise funds to pay for lab equipment rather Small start-up businesses can rent than actively marketing its groundbreak- space there and enjoy a strong support sys- ing technology. tem that includes on-site laboratory space. “I think it’s one of the best things The hope is the companies will grow and Owensboro has done,” Humphrey said. rent more space before they are large “There will be other startups that come to enough to go out on their own. Owensboro because of it.” The first business to move in was Judge-Executive Al Mattingly, who The Centre for Business & Research being Hollison Technologies, which has been took office in January, said the Centre is an developed in a former tobacco warehouse in there since May 2010. Hollison has a example of the community’s efforts to cre- downtown Owensboro is designed to house companies that spin off from KBP operations. patent-pending process for securing the ate its own economic stimulus. 12 The Lane Report’s Greater Owensboro Community Profile Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 13

“I have great re- The region has seen tremendous Artist’s rendering of a potential design for spect for the people of growth in the healthcare industry with the new hotel complex that will be built Daviess County. They OMHS, already one of Kentucky’s largest by The Malcolm Bryant Corp. at the western end of Owensboro’s redeveloped riverfront. have a can-do atti- hospitals, beginning construction on a new tude,” Mattingly said. $385 million facility on the city’s east side. “We see something OMHS already is the region’s largest that needs to be done employer with more than 3,000 employ- The Economic Development Corp. and we do it.” Al Mattingly, ees. The new 447-bed facility is expected developed a strategy last year focused on Brake said the Daviess County to create 800 new healthcare jobs in the the following areas: talent, innovation, in- Economic Develop- Judge-Executive next five years. dustry and place. ment Corp. continues to work with exist- Owensboro also has seen significant “It’s important to have a strategy,” ing businesses as well as large employers growth in the finance sector, most notably the Brake said. “It’s a talent-driven economy that may be interested in locating here. expansion of U.S. Bank’s home mortgage fa- and we have to be able to compete glob- But he said manufacturing jobs are on the cility. U.S. Bank already employs more than ally. Through innovation, leadership and decline, and new strategies are critical for 1,200 in Owensboro, and the expansion is ex- planning, our community is becoming an the future of the local economy. pected to bring another 500 jobs to the region. even better place to live and work.” ● Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 14

ARTS Arts Help Owensboro Thrive

LREADY dubbed “Broadway West,” Owensboro is home to a Athriving arts scene that officials hope will grow along with its downtown. RiverPark Center is the riverfront performing arts center. They call it Broad- way West because many Broadway shows are built and performed there before going on to New York and other major metro- politan areas. Adjacent to RiverPark is the Interna- tional Bluegrass Museum. It’s one of the smaller of the community’s cultural insti- tutions, but Mayor Ron Payne believes it has tremendous potential. Payne hopes to move the Bluegrass Museum into a 60,000-s.f. building and make it a major tourist attraction. “I think this is going to set Owensboro apart. This is the home, the center of blue- grass,” he said. “We want this museum des- Owensboro Museum of Science and His- Friday After 5 performances at the RiverPark ignated as the national bluegrass museum.” tory is growing with hands-on exhibits. Center are popular downtown happenings. Most of the cultural amenities are The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra clustered downtown. In addition to the and Owensboro Dance Theatre can be seen RiverPark Center and the Bluegrass Mu- performing at RiverPark Center and a va- seum, Owensboro is home to the Owens- riety of less formal community venues. boro Museum of Fine Art, Kentucky’s Theatre Workshop of Owensboro has been Kentucky’s Festival City second-largest fine-art museum. The bringing community theater to the region 2011 Dates for Community Events for more than 40 years and recently ex- panded to include a second performance • Elevation 2011: Feb. 18-19 venue. The Western Kentucky Botanical • Gospel Festival 2011: March 11-12 • Dogwood Azalea Trail: Mid-April Garden hosts a variety of activities through mid-May throughout the year. • International Bar-B-Q Festival: May 13-14 In addition, Owensboro is known as • Friday After 5: May 20-Sept. 2 • Soapbox Derby: June 4 Kentucky’s Festival City and hosts numer- • The Dazzling Daylily: June 20-25 ous festivals throughout the year. During • River of Music Festival (ROMP): June 23-25 the summer months, “Friday After 5” of- • Family Freedom Fireworks Festival: July 3 • Celebration of the American Spirit: July 4 fers 16 weeks of free concerts on the River- • 5th Annual Street Legends: Aug. 19-20 Park Patio perched on the Ohio River. • Multi-Cultural Festival: Aug. 20 Zev Buffman, RiverPark Center’s • 6th Annual Mandolin Camp: Sept. 9-11 • Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration: dynamic president and CEO, said the arts Sept. 12-14 are critical to making Owensboro more at- • 3rd Annual Patriot Days: Sept. 17 tractive to tourists. • Annual Scarecrow Festival: Sept. 17 • 6th Annual Grillin’ & Chillin’ BBQ “We are building a lot of venues. We Cookoff: Sept. 23-24 are building a lot of large buildings. The • Owensboro Pumpkinfest: Sept. 23-25 arts will help make us a destination,” Buff- • Reid’s Orchard Apple Festival: Oct. 15-16 • Monsters on the Ohio: Oct. 28-29 man said. “Without the arts, we wouldn’t • Christmas at Panther Creek: Nov. 17-Dec. 31 have a chance.” • 75th Christmas Parade: Nov. 19 He said the arts attract new businesses • Winter Wonderland: Nov. 26, 2011- Jan. 2, 2012 and residents. • The Nutcracker: Dec. 3 “Arts and economic development • Holiday Stroll: Dec. 3 marry very, very well,” Buffman said. • Holiday Forest: November-December Zev Buffman, president and CEO of RiverPark • Holiday in the Park: November-December Center, where multiple Broadway shows have “When they come in and they see the array For more information about visiting been built and performed before full-scale of arts offered in Owensboro, that does Owensboro, go to visitowensboro.com. launch in New York and elsewhere. make a huge difference.” ● 14 The Lane Report’s Greater Owensboro Community Profile Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 15

TRANSPORTATION

The intermodal Owensboro Riverport Authority facility operates on 285 acres at Mile 759 on the Ohio River .

serves as a licensed delivery warehouse, the only warehouse in the world serving con- tracts from the New York Mercantile Ex- change and the London Metal Exchange. In addition to its geographical benefit, the port is a customs port-of-entry for receiv- ing and shipping of foreign goods and maintains Foreign Trade Zone status. The Owensboro-Daviess County Re- gional Airport is home to Allegiant Air, Multimodal Logistics in the which offers direct flights to Orlando, as well as Kentucky Skies, which offers daily Center of the United States flights to Nashville International Airport, where business and leisure travelers may WENSBORO is a one-day drive Owensboro offers intermodal transit connect with other flights. The airport’s to major cities such as Atlanta, with river, rail, air and highway access. main runway is 8,000 feet, the second OChicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, In- Excellent highway, rail, river, and air ac- longest in Kentucky. ● dianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Mem- cess allow commerce to flow quickly to all phis, Nashville and St. Louis. Greater parts of the world. Within a one-day drive of Owensboro is located 75 miles from the major markets, Owensboro is an excellent lo- median center of the U.S. population. cation for just-in-time deliveries. The Owensboro Riverport Authority is a full-port, intermodal facility serving local, national, and international industry. Located at mile 759 on the Ohio River and 10 miles from the confluence of the Green River, the Owensboro Riverport is the Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air offers service largest riverport between Louisville and St. to Orlando from Owensboro-Daviess County Louis and is a pivotal point for all river Regional Airport. shipping in the Midwest. The Riverport A grain barge is serviced at Owensboro Riverport.

Major Highway Improvements Connect City to I-64/65 Corridor UTTING Owensboro “on the map” has been a major goal of business leaders and elected officials in recent years. PNew highway projects are taking shape to dramatically improve access to and from the region. Owensboro has long been served by two limited-access park- ways: Audubon Parkway runs to Henderson while the Natcher Parkway connects to I-65 near Bowling Green. The Greater Owens- boro Chamber of Commerce successfully lobbied in recent years to have both designated as future Interstate spurs by Congress. The Audubon Parkway will become an I-69 spur in western Kentucky in the coming years. The Natcher Parkway will eventually be an Interstate spur connecting Owensboro to I-65. “We’re well on our way to transforming Owensboro from a community that has traditionally been considered somewhat ‘trans- portation poor’ to one that is fully intermodal,” said Jody Wassmer, president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. A new 100-mile, four-lane route connecting I-64 in opened in 2002, the existing U.S. 60 bypass and the Natcher southern Indiana to I-65 is also taking shape through the Parkway, will complete the corridor. heart of Daviess County. The new U.S. 231 in Spencer County, The Greater Owensboro Chamber and EDC are marketing this Ind., the Natcher Bridge span over the Ohio River that new four-lane route as the Interstate 64/65 Corridor Connector.

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TOP EMPLOYERS

Owensboro Community and Technical College.

Owensboro Medical Health System's hospital. Owensboro-Daviess County’s 25 Largest Employers RANK COMPANY PRODUCT/SERVICE # OF EMPLOYEES 1 Owensboro Medical Health System Hospital 3,300 2 Daviess County Public Schools School system 1,775 3 U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Mortgage processing 1,261 4 Owensboro Public Schools School system 778 5 Wal-Mart Retail stores 541 6 Unilever Foods North America Ragu spaghetti sauce 515 7 Owensboro Community & Technical College College 494 8 City of Owensboro City government 481 9 Commonwealth of Kentucky State government 471 10 Specialty Food Group Meat processing 470 11 Toyotetsu Mid-America Automotive parts manufacturer 372 12 Titan Contracting Mechanical construction 350 13 UniFirst Uniform distribution 350 14 Kimberly-Clark Paper products 342 15 Premium Allied Tool Metal stamping and fabricated products 330 16 Swedish Match Tobacco products 290 17 Boardwalk Natural Gas Pipeline Headquarters 255 18 Owensboro Municipal Utilities Utility 250 19 Metalsa Truck frame manufacturer 230 20 Green River District Health Health department 224 21 Sazerac Bottling Warehouse plant of whiskey, gin, etc. 215 22 AT&T National directory call center 200 23 MPD Inc. Microwave products 189 24 Crop Production Services Farm services 175 25 Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. Headquarters – transporting natural gas to markets in the Midwest 165 Source: Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp.

SPORTS One of the Top 50 Sports Towns in America WENSBORO has the distinction of being named as one of the Top O50 Sports Towns in the United States by Sports Illustrated. Owensboro boasts outstanding sports complexes unmatched by much larger cities. The region is home to two large championship baseball/softball complexes and a state-of-the-art four-field football complex, as well as two 10-field soccer complexes, a 5,000-seat indoor arena and numerous other indoor gymnasiums. Numerous national championships The Owensboro Softball Complex at Jack Fisher Park. and state tournaments in baseball and softball are played here. Very few cities Local residents and leaders invite be the same as that of Sports Illustrated: have the proven sports pedigree of everyone to experience Owensboro’s brand Owensboro is one of the best places in the Owensboro. of sports. They think the impression will United States to play or watch sports! 16 The Lane Report’s Greater Owensboro Community Profile Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 993 Owensboro CP.qk:Layout 1 1/31/11 10:09 AM Page 994