Wayne Hunt — president of H&R Agri-Power and longtime voice of agriculture in Kentucky — got emotional during the close of his Monday presentation in Hopkinsville for the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council.
Fighting back tears, Hunt said: “It all depends on what you want for your community. But to me…I’m dedicated to agriculture.”
At the heart of Hunt’s words, came his thoughts about Hopkinsville and Christian County’s growing potential of landing a large-scale beef processing and distribution plant in the area — in what could be an American-owned family business bringing more than 1,300 jobs and considerable infrastructure to the region.
Since Hendricks and other officials have Christian County as a potential landing spot for this company, some questions have come far quicker than praise. Will the jobs be competitive in the local market? What kind of workforce will be available for the facility? Would such a property — capable of processing more than 2,200 heads of livestock daily — emit uncomfortable, displeasing odors? Would it put other local meat dealers out of business? And if it’s potentially located at the Commerce Park II Rail Site, how will the flow of traffic be resolved?
All fair questions, and all things Hunt believed could be resolved.
Though the company remains unnamed at this time, Hunt and SWK EDC Executive Director Carter Hendricks each shared considerable details about the project. It’s the fifth-largest meat processor in the country, and at startup would require a 500,000-foot facility and $300 million capital investment — in what could potentially be the largest such move in the last two decades for Christian County.
Hunt and Hendricks also noted that Hopkinsville and one other location remain in the running for the project, which was brought to the area’s table by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development “about four months ago.”
Hendricks, meanwhile, said that Christian County came with several obvious pitch points to this company. For starters, more than 450,000 workers reside within the nine-county job shed in and around Hopkinsville. Expand the commute from 45 to 60 minutes, and there are more than 1,000,000 potential employees in the area. Secondly, with its perfect location near I-69 and I-24, Christian County is unique located geographically for beef distribution to a large amount of the U.S. Population — particularly within a 400-mile trucking radius.
But the age of the workforce, as well as its potentially nestled location between community colleges and two four-year universities in Western Kentucky and Murray State, also make this an attractive location.
Hunt, Hendricks and Hopkinsville Mayor Wendell Lynch were among a small delegation of local dignitaries who have already traveled to and visited a similar facility within this company — of which Lynch gave glowing reviews.
A public hearing is being held about the proposed beef processing facility at 6 tonight in the old Pembroke Gymnasium.
