SE Bluegrass News

City of Berea issued the following announcement on Oct. 25

Lucas Witt (left) of Fortune Solutions was introduced Wednesday by Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley at the Industry Appreciation Luncheon at Boone Tavern. As an economic development contractor, Witt described how he will help the city strengthen relationships with local industries and attract new ones. At right is Berea College President Lyle Roelofs, who welcomed attendees to the event.

Local industries were honored Wednesday by the City of Berea for being a cornerstone of economic progress and quality of life. The City of Berea Industry Appreciation Luncheon was facilitated by the Berea Business & Economic Development Department, and took place in the Skylight Room of Boone Tavern.

Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley opened the event by noting the significant contribution industries have made to the city’s quality of life, thanking industry and business leaders for helping drive progress.

“When our economy grows, and when the local occupational license fees come in, we’re able to provide better services. All of this economic development allows us to provide infrastructure and services to our citizens, and it improves the quality of life of everybody in Berea,” Fraley said. “That’s why what you do every day, what your employees do, and what your companies do, is so important to the city, so thank you for that.”

At one point, Fraley emphasized the need for the city to maintain an open line of communication to local industries. Highlighting part of that strategy, Fraley introduced Lucas Witt of Fortune Solutions, LLC, a city economic development contractor who is tasked with strengthening city/industry relationships and helping companies seize opportunities for economic development in Berea.

“We’re here to help Berea recruit new industries, but more importantly, work with the existing industries here,” Witt said, noting that industrial growth has been a driver of the occupational license fees for the city, which fund city services. He added his firm’s job will to meet industrial leaders and help them take advantage of new opportunities like tax incentives for growth, tax credits, or regulatory advantages. “It’s just our job to make sure you’re aware of all the resources available,” Witt said.

Fraley noted that Witt’s services will be just one facet of a three-pronged strategy that will also include having the city house a representative of the Small Business Administration, along with the replacement of the economic development director in the coming weeks.

Madison County Schools Superintendent David Gilliam, who was the keynote speaker for the afternoon, outlined the progress for the vocational schools in both Richmond and Berea. But before his presentation, Gilliam expressed his thanks to industrial and business leaders.

“I say ‘Thank you’ from the schools, because we realize that you are the folks that hire our graduates, but we also know the schools are funded through tax dollars, and it’s our business community providing tax dollars through a solid economy that provides us with the funds to operate our schools,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam presented plans for the renovated Area Technology Center (ATC) in Richmond as well as a new Berea ATC to be located near Farristown Middle School. The Berea ATC will be approximately 50,000 square feet in size, while the Richmond facility, next to Madison Central High School, will be 65,000 square feet.

A tentative curriculum offered at the Berea site includes engineering, culinary arts, health sciences, including programs to help participants earn a Certified Nurses Aid (CNA) certificate, marketing, a diesel lab, welding, and an industrial maintenance program. Gilliam said some of the programs will offered at both sites, which are slated to open as early as August 2021.

Dispelling the notion that the ATC’s are designed to divert students away from a college track, Gilliam said the programs will cater to both students who want to proceed directly into the workforce and those who plan to pursue some kind of college degree.

“I think this will uplift the aspirations of all of the students. We want kids to look at this and see the value of these programs and develop career aspirations,” Gilliam said. “We want to have them say ‘I want to go there so I can get this training, to get this job and live a good life.’ It’s lifting aspirations for all of those kids.”

Before the event concluded, Mayor Fraley thanked all of the attendees, which included representatives from Stemco, Novelis, Jade Enterprises, Madison County Schools, Berea Independent Schools, CHI Saint Joseph Hospital Berea, Danny Miller New York Life, Davis & Powell Funeral Home, and Berea College President Lyle Roelofs, who welcomed attendees to Boone Tavern. Other officials in attendance included Berea Independent Schools Superintendent Diane Hatchett, Berea City Council members John Payne, Jerry Little, Cora Jane Wilson, and David Rowlette, who also represented the Berea Chamber of Commerce. Berea City Administrator David Gregory emceed the event.

Original source can be found here.

Source: City of Berea