Welcome to ON TARGET, Graves County Economic Development's (GCED) bi-monthly newsletter. Here you can learn economic development updates, projects, and upcoming events. In this edition of ON TARGET we'll discuss recent events, last year's achievements, project updates, and what we're looking forward to in the future.

Past Months' Announcements

May

Last August, the Area Technology Center (ATC) began a community effort to have businesses sponsor award plaques to recognize their star students. We've had Progress Rail Services, Awardmasters, Universal Compressor Solutions, A.C.E. Compressors, the Mayfield Kentucky Industrial Development Authority, and GCED all serve as sponsors in the past. New businesses are welcome to sponsor an award and be apart of this program, please email Alex at Awardmasters if you are interested in being a sponsor to recognize outstanding ATC students.

June

GCED hosted our third plant managers' roundtable to bring together the business and industry leadership in Mayfield and Graves County to hear about financial support opportunities from our regional economic development partners. Our first plant managers' meeting was held in February, with infrastructure and workforce development being the main topics. This second plant managers' roundtable followed up on these topics with further discussion of workforce and infrastructure projects.

We held our annual Skybox Partners Luncheon to provide updates to our contributors from our 2023-2024 successes and our 2024-2025 plans. GCED provided updates about the 150,000 square feet speculative building, recent partnership with the ATC for the purchase of a CNC Mill made possible by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) workforce invest grant, and over $10 million invested and over 50 new jobs from business expansions. We also spoke about plans for next year including the Hickory Industrial Park Expansion, case studies to highlight the existing business and industry successes, the Makerspace project, and the Community Connections program.

July

GCED traveled to Frankfort to present Project Precision and the TVA Workforce Invest grant alongside our economic development partners from TVA and our region. Many businesses in Mayfield and Graves County use Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operations for their production, however it takes extensive on-the-job training for new hires to learn these skills. Recognizing the need for CNC operator skills, multiple local and regional partners collaborated to purchase a CNC Mill for the Mayfield/Graves County Area Technology Center (ATC). The CNC Mill Operator Certification pathway will begin this fall at the ATC. Students will receive this certification through the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) exam. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 hour training course will also be apart of this pathway to further add to the students' credentials. Thank you to all of our education, community, economic development, and industry partners which made this possible: Mayfield/Graves County Area Technology Center, Graves County Schools, Mayfield Independent Schools, Carlisle County Schools, Four Rivers Foundation, Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development, VisionFirst Advisors, West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, West Kentucky Workforce Board, A.C.E. Compressor, Fran Bearing, LSK Inc., Universal Compressor Solutions, Progress Rail Services, and Osmundson Mfg. Co.

We are working with the Mayfield/Graves County ATC, Graves County Schools, and Mayfield Independent Schools for a new program called "Community Connections," which will communicate the business and industry opportunities in Mayfield and Graves County to our students. A step in this program is "Power in Partnerships," to have our local industry partners come out to the ATC every other week for mentorships. Community Connections will seek to increase internships and industry tours with the business and industry of Mayfield and Graves County to give our students firsthand insights into our local opportunities.

The Remote Workers' Program has now attracted two movers to Mayfield and Graves County. Our program has received over 400 applicants on MakeMyMove’s website with nearly 80 approved applicants. 12 offers have been made, with these two movers being our first to accept. Our page on MakeMyMove’s website has made over 150,000 impressions from over 85,000 unique users. Over 10,000 potential movers viewed our page, with over 9,000 clicks and over 1,000 likes on our page. There is an increase in the number of applicants who are confirmed to be eligible for the program and in the percentage of eligible applicants who receive offers.  

August

The 4th Plant Managers' Roundtable Discussion meeting will be held on August 21st. GCED will discuss the new Community Connections initiative.

For any questions please call Garrett Clark at (270)804-8224 or send an email to garrett@gravescountyed.com