Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress seeking a Director of Economic Development
Original Post: 7/21/2020 Revised: 10/14/2020
Position Overview
Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress is seeking a proven and charismatic economic development practitioner to direct its efforts for Muhlenberg County, KY, attracting industry, creating better paying jobs, and increasing the investment tax base to help drive the economic engine of Muhlenberg County and its surrounding region. Leading the County’s nonprofit economic development organization, the Director of Economic Development will work directly with a progressive public-private Board of Directors, the County Fiscal Court, Kentucky’s Cabinet for Economic Development and local partner organizations to lead economic development efforts and develop a vision for future economic progress for the County.
Muhlenberg County, a community of just over 30,000, is situated in the rolling hills of Western Kentucky, with direct highway access less than 2 hours away from major markets including Nashville and Louisville. County residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a robust arts community, exceptional recreation activities, abundant educational opportunities through the local school system and community college, and a 5-star community hospital. To learn more about the community and all it offers, visit www.moremuhlenberg.com or the Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress website at www.mafp.us .
Essential Position Duties and Responsibilities
This full-time position will lead all facets of economic development including:
Strategic Planning and Program Development
Lead and direct the County’s economic development efforts, including: work with local committees to assess economic conditions; develop responsive economic and business-related solutions; formulate and implement marketing and business attraction strategies; produce an economic development plan that aligns with the goals of the County; and build collaborative relationships with County and City leaders to coordinate the business attraction and development activities.
Business Attraction
Market Muhlenberg County to prospective new businesses; facilitate site and building promotion for available public and private buildings and business and residential development sites within the community; prepare and maintain information on utilities, taxes, zoning, transportation, and community services in order to respond to requests for information for economic development purposes; serve as a conduit for financing tools and incentives; maintain relationships with federal, state, regional, local and higher education allies; and develop marketing materials for the County.
Existing Business Retention & Expansion
Oversee the development, implementation and management of a comprehensive business assistance program and the necessary partnerships to help existing and aspiring businesses grow.
Entrepreneurial Support
Coordinate programs to provide technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs; coordinate efforts of microloan program available for County residents; and promote entrepreneurial thinking among students.
Public Relations
Serve as chief spokesperson for County-wide economic development efforts; proactively communicate the activities and successes of the economic development corporation to the public via website, social and local media, newsletters, personal visits and speaking engagements; serve as a member of economic development groups or task forces that promote economic and community development at the local, State or Federal level, as deemed necessary or appropriate; and become involved in community activities to maintain the organization’s visibility.
Organizational Management
Oversee all operations of Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress; provide leadership to committees; supervise staff; oversee the office including its financial activities and budget; and attend professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in the field of economic development, and to represent the interest of Muhlenberg County on matters related to economic development.
Desired Qualifications:
- Proven record of economic development leadership
- Seasoned marketing acumen and business attraction experience
- History of high level interaction with government officials and business executives
- Forward, creative thinking
- Superior interpersonal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively to groups and individuals, engineers, architects, contractors, developers, businesses, supervisors, employees, and the general public.
- Graduation from a four-year college or university, preferably with specialization in economic and community development, business or a related field; or any equivalent combination or experience and training.
- Ability to prepare and analyze reports and data, and have skill in the operation of necessary tools and equipment, i.e. computer, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software.
- Willingness to travel in and out of state for meetings and recruitment events
- Ability to work nontraditional hours (early mornings, late nights or weekends) when necessary
Compensation
Aggressive salary commensurate with experience, with a generous benefits package provided.
Selection Process
All candidates should submit resume and cover letter by October 30, 2020 via email or postal service. The most qualified individuals will be invited to participate in the next phase of the selection process. EOE. Please submit resumes to:
Email: lgardner@fsnb.net
Mail: Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress, P.O. Box 389, Central City, KY 42330
Wester’s Body Shop family, employees, and community supporters to include State Representative Melinda Prunty, and Corey Elder, Field Representative for Congressman James Comer.
On Friday, January 3, 2020, Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress was proud to announce the relocation and business expansion of Wester’s Body Shop to 111 Industrial Drive, Greenville.
Wester’s Body Shop has been in business for over fifty years and with the purchase of this 45,000 square foot building, are laying the groundwork for another fifty years at the former Flynn Building location.
Congratulations to Eddie, Michelle, Josh and Destyn Wester. Welcome to the Muhlenberg Industrial Business Park.
Second Annual Community Informational Meeting
Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress hosted their 2nd Annual Community Informational Meeting on October 17, 2018 at the Felix E. Martin Jr Hall. Information was shared about business prospects & expansions, infrastructure needs, and the room was filled with many who “Believe” in Muhlenberg County. John Bevington, formerly the Commissioner for Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, currently the Economic Development Director for LGE – KU was the Keynote Speaker. Approximately 85 were in attendance.
Muhlenberg Business and Industries Expand
Professional economic Developers will tell you most job creation comes from existing businesses and industries. Some experts say up to 80% of newly created jobs come from existing business and industry expansion. Even though Muhlenberg has not had the good fortune to land a nice new factory in our Paradise Regional Business Park, we have had the good fortune of existing businesses and industries expanding.
Central Screen Printing moved into the former Pogue Automotive Chevy store in Central City resulting in fifty new jobs. Brewco Marketing Systems worked with the state Cabinet for Economic Development to purchase a building and enlarge their workforce. Most recent StrikerBilt moved into the warehouse space formerly used by Wing Supply in Greenville and are in the process of expanding their workforce by 30 to 40 new jobs. These jobs will be welding and machinists positions. The Cabinet for Children Services will be moving to a new location next to Plastic Products early in 2019. This move will create possibly up to 35 new jobs.
Expansion of existing industry and business depends on a trained, educated and available workforce. The Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress and the Felix E. Martin Jr Foundation supports local business and industry through the Work Ready Community Initiative. Muhlenberg is moving very close to being fully Work Ready certified at the state level. Accomplishing full Work Ready certification will help our industries know there are available workers who the skills they need to support their expansion.
Lineman Training Introduced at Madisonville Community College
Madisonville Community College (MCC)has introduced a new lineman program. The training is an eight week intensive study of lineman work including climbing power poles, using a bucket truck and safety training among other curriculum. Before MCC started the classes anyone from West Kentucky had to travel to Eastern Kentucky to secure this type of training.
The first graduating class had eleven graduates, three of which students from Muhlenberg County: Auston Camplin, Bronson 
Goff and Brody Sublett. The second class with twelve students has begun and has four Muhlenberg students. Mike Davenport, Director of Workforce Solution at Madisonville Community College said, “the students who graduate the lineman course are almost certainly guaranteed a job. Most of the time they will start with an income of $35,000 to $40,000. In no time at all they could be making $60,000 to $70,000 dollars.”
The three students who graduated in the first class have gone to work for Groves Construction in Madisonville. Since Hurricane Florence has caused so much destruction along the east coast the demand for lineman will likely go up. The lineman training is a great opportunity for any student coming out of high school and has no desire to go to college to secure a good job.
Advanced Manufacturing Training to be Offered at Muhlenberg County High School
Starting in fall 2019, Muhlenberg County High School students will have opportunity to enroll in Advanced Manufacturing classes. With a $298,000 grant from the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation, Madisonville Community College will partner with Muhlenberg Count High School to equip a hands-on lab for the program at the west campus of Muhlenberg County High School.
Using a classroom model in which online instruction from faculty at Madisonville Community College will be supplemented with hands-on lab work and skill demonstrations, MCHS students will be able to earn the 8 credit-hour Skilled Operator credential while still in high school. In addition, students will qualify to test for multiple industry-recognized certifications from the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).
Principal Donna Bumps explains that, “the credentials earned while at MCHS are directly applicable to the modern advanced manufacturing workplace with classes covering skills such as power development and distribution, hydraulics, pneumatics and mechanical installation.” Credit hours will also give students a head start toward the Advanced Integrated Technology (AIT) associate degree program at Madisonville Community College (MCC). This program integrates various technologies in order to educate students with diverse skills needed in today’s high-tech industrial settings. MCC Vice-President, Dr. Jay Parrent, commented, “Students who have completed the MCHS AIT program after graduation, will qualify for Kentucky’s Work Ready Skills Scholarship which will currently provide full tuition at no cost to students.”
Graduates of the AIT program at MCC are typically placed as multi-skill maintenance technicians who are able to install, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and inspect diverse state of the art equipment and systems. “The proposed Advanced Integrated Technology training at the high school will fall right in line with what the state is looking for in their targeted sector jobs. The state estimates there will be 846 jobs available in the next five years in Western Kentucky in Advanced Manufacturing. This will include machinists, industrial machine mechanics and team assemblers. Having this program at the high school will be invaluable for economy development. It is another piece of the puzzle that will make Muhlenberg County attractive to industrial prospects,” remarked Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress Director, Gary Jones.
Foundation President, Alyssa Manning, added, “The Foundation is thrilled to be a part of the development of this program which will provide Muhlenberg students with an additional pathway into the century job market. In addition, providing manufacturing training locally will position Muhlenberg County to compete for industries which are currently showing interest in the Western Kentucky region, proving that our local workforce is ready for those opportunities.”
Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress Supports Entrepreneurship
As the economic development headquarters for Muhlenberg County, we feel it’s important to encourage and have resources available to support entrepreneurship. Three sets of entrepreneur classes were offered that cons
isted of six weeks of learning various business topics such as: 1) Choosing the Right Business, 2) The Business Plan, 3) Creating a Vision for your Company, 4) Marketing and Operations, 5) Financial Plan, and 6) Execution: Making the Plan Work.
Grant money was obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation to provide free entrepreneur classes. Students completing those classes were eligible for micro-loans to help start their new business. Classes consisted of information about a business plan, marketing of your business, choosing the right business, and a vision for your business. In addition, a one-on-one business builder course was offered and a lenders panel was made available to help new entrepreneurs understand finance an business banking.
In addition to the six week business courses, other entrepreneur classes were offered that provided additional support to current business owners to improve their accounting and marketing strategies. Those classes were Gorilla Marketing, One-on-One Lending, QuickBooks, and Marketing Strategies.