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EDC and Chamber report: Morehead seeks federal MMRC earmark, industrial-park gas funding fell short in state budget
Summary
Jason, presenting Chamber and EDC updates, reported growth in membership and events and detailed development activity: a $5.2M state request to extend natural-gas service to the industrial park was not approved, and the EDC has submitted a $6M federal earmark request for an MMRC incubator to support aerospace startups.
Jason (speaker 13) presented the Chamber and EDC quarterly update at the April 13 council meeting, reporting membership growth, new revenue streams and several local development projects while detailing challenges in securing infrastructure funding.
Chamber and membership: Jason said Chamber membership has topped 300 — including 50 new members this year — and that membership and non-dues revenue have helped the Chamber expand workforce and networking programming. Upcoming events named included a women’s conference (April 21), a legislative update luncheon (May 7) and a golf scramble in June.
Industrial park natural-gas infrastructure: Jason told council an earlier state funding request of $5,200,000 to upgrade the industrial park’s gas tap and install roughly 1,800 feet of 4-inch steel line was not approved by the Kentucky General Assembly this session. He said Delta Gas is pursuing an EDX filing with the public service commission as an alternative path.
MMRC incubator and federal request: Jason said the EDC submitted a federal earmark request for $6,000,000 to build a 20,000-square-foot MMRC facility intended to support aerospace and advanced-manufacturing startups; he clarified the request is an earmark/appropriation request and not local EDC funds. The incubator would offer clean-room space to attract seed-stage companies that cannot yet occupy greenfield industrial sites.
Other development notes: Jason reported active construction at several sites (including new Liberty Mart and other retail/dispensary development), an Apollo 1 corridor with brand interest, progress on Oakham Prime (Wells property) USDA financing and eastern distillery project milestones for Eastern Light Distilling, which expects to begin a second leg of construction as financing closes.
Downtown parking and YMCA planning: Jason said a downtown parking study is complete and staff will assemble a steering committee of city/county stakeholders to address walkability and parking; he described the YMCA initiative as a partnership effort requiring a sponsoring YMCA and an advisory committee to take next steps, with outreach starting in late April or May.
Why this matters
The failure of the state funding request for natural-gas infrastructure constrains industrial growth unless alternative financing or Delta Gas regulatory approvals are secured. The MMRC incubator federal request, if awarded, would create specialized space intended to attract and retain aerospace startups and support local job growth.
Next steps
EDC staff will continue outreach to potential industry partners, pursue alternative funding or regulatory paths for industrial-park gas infrastructure (including Delta Gas EDX filings), and follow up on the federal earmark request; council and staff will convene stakeholder groups on downtown parking and YMCA feasibility work.
