Boyd County and Greenup County Forge New Partnership for Economic Growth
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
In a landmark move, Boyd County and Greenup County have joined forces to establish a strategic partnership aimed at fostering economic growth and prosperity for both regions. This collaborative initiative, “The Northeastern Kentucky Economic Development,” was unveiled on Wednesday at the Bellefonte Country Club, in a joint press conference. This partnership marks a significant step toward harnessing shared resources and expertise to create a thriving economic landscape.
Leaders from both counties highlighted the undeniable benefits that this new partnership would bring about, emphasizing the synergies that will drive innovation, attract investments, and bolster local businesses. Boyd County Judge Executive, Eric Chaney was eager to share the news of this historical partnership between the two counties. “This is about two counties coming together to push economic development to the next level. For the last five years, we’ve been busting out project after project, finding creative ways to attract companies to our community, and focusing economic development through tourism. With a record-breaking amount of project announcements and more in the pipeline, my team and I thought, ‘How do we take this even further?’ ‘How can we make ourselves stand out even more?’”
The answer became clear to Chaney rather quickly… “We have to take this regionally. We have to start leveraging our assets collectively. At the same time, creating the case study for how healthy regionalism looks. Two counties, along with our regional chamber of commerce, are going to set the precedent of true regionalism in the Commonwealth. I am excited to start this new journey in partnership with Judge Hall and Greenup County.”
Greenup County Judge Executive, Bobby Hall, echoed these sentiments with a statement of his own, “After one year serving as the Judge Executive in Greenup County, I must agree with Jelly Roll…’I want to tell you that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason!’ What is in front of Greenup County and Boyd County is so much more important than what is behind us! We are working together to move Greenup County and Boyd County into the 21st century with industrial type jobs and manufacturing jobs.”
It is no secret that over the years both counties have witnessed far too many of its families move away in hopes of a finding good paying jobs. “We have got to make sure that OUR people stay in Boyd and Greenup County,” declared Judge Executive Hall. By working together, both counties can leverage their unique strengths to attract new industries, create jobs, and to ensure that both of their respective communities thrive in the face of any economic challenges. The Northeastern Kentucky Economic Development promises to bring improved infrastructure, expanded job opportunities, and an overall enhancement of the quality of life in both counties. As this collaboration unfolds, it stands as a testament to the power of regional cooperation in driving economic growth and prosperity.