The Skybox Partners Luncheon hosted by the Graves County Economic Development last week featured Kentucky Secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development, Jeff Noel, as the main speaker of the event. Noel spoke on recent business developments and congratulated GCED President Jason Lemle on successes brought on by its team.
"I truly believe that if economic development is going to be successful, the only way economic development can really work - whether it's business, whether it's a church, whether it's a community - that everything begins with leadership," Noel said, during the event held at the Graves County Extension Office. "Leadership strategy, structure and process."
The two chairmen at the corporation for which Noel worked were very adamant that leadership was everything to the success of a business. Noel said it's the community's leadership, involvement and enthusiasm that makes economic development possible.
"Those of you that dig into your pockets and write a check, come to your meetings, show your support, and express that 'We have a vision for our community,' despite the knocks that you've had," he said.
"You've got to have someone like Jason (Lemle) who's got the energy, who's got the know-how," Noel said.
Noel said what matters most is happening in the community itself.
"The building blocks of economic development is happening all across the state, and more importantly, those building blocks - if we do it right as a state, recognize that we have those foundations of success,' he said.
Noel said Kentucky is now No. 1 in the southeast states in per capita in terms of jobs.
"We were sixth and seventh nationally, in terms of job announcements and investments," he said. "We have to continue to build on that strategy and continue to realize everything is truly one block at a time when it comes to the world of economic development."
Noel told the audience that economic development wasn't about supporting one kind of job or one kind of business.
Lemle thanked Noel for coming to Graves County and for his leadership and support.
GCED chairman Brad Dame left the audience with a closing remark, saying, "We were able to show the great announcements we've had this year, but also, there are things that are done behind the scenes that you don't see. Over the last couple of years, the board has worked diligently to move forward to restructure the organization with new bylaws, a new direction and new thoughts. This was something that the board thought needed to be done to prepare ourselves to help Graves County move forward in the future."