BRADD honors public service, highlights regional accomplishments

Regional accomplishments, public service and opportunities for continued growth took center stage as the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) celebrated its 58th annual meeting Sept. 30 in Tompkinsville.

The gathering featured a keynote address by former Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton and the presentation of the William H. Natcher Award to Bowling Green City Commissioner Dr. Sue Parrigin in recognition of her decades of public service.

Established in 1994 in honor of the late U.S. Rep. William H. Natcher, the award recognizes an elected official from the BRADD region who has served at least five years in public office and demonstrated exceptional commitment to public service, integrity and fairness.

Warren County Attorney Amy Hale Chandler presented the award to Parrigin, who has served on the Bowling Green City Commission since 2014 and as mayor pro tem since 2020.

“Sue’s commitment to serving people is evident in the way she places the constituents first, ensuring that everyone is heard and supported,” Chandler said.

In accepting the award, Parrigin reflected on the importance of representing constituents regardless of political affiliation.

“There’s something especially meaningful to me about receiving an award named after William H. Natcher,” Parrigin said. “Many of you know that politically, I’m on the opposite side of the aisle from Mr. Natcher. But that’s what makes this recognition meaningful. Mr. Natcher understood something that’s just as important in local government today as it was many years ago when he was leading us. You are elected to represent people, not a political party.”

Parrigin has played a key role in securing a $20 million state investment for the Anchor Project, an initiative focused on expanding mental health and substance use disorder treatment in the region. She has also supported the Goodwill Another Way program, which connects individuals experiencing homelessness with employment and transportation opportunities.

During her remarks, Parrigin described the Anchor Project as a generational resource and an opportunity for communities to work together to strengthen the region's future.

In his keynote address, Minton reflected on the 50th anniversary of Kentucky's Judicial Article, which unified the commonwealth's court system. He also discussed the relationship between the justice system and regional economic development, emphasizing the need to expand opportunities for individuals reentering communities following incarceration.

Minton encouraged BRADD and local officials to pursue Recovery Ready Communities certifications, address housing barriers for individuals returning from incarceration and explore opportunities to strengthen economic resilience in the region's four Appalachian counties through Inspire funding.

BRADD Executive Director Eric Sexton echoed those priorities in his closing remarks while highlighting the agency's accomplishments during fiscal year 2026.

Sexton reported that BRADD assumed responsibility for operating senior centers across its 10-county region, serving more than 150,000 meals and assisting more than 7,000 aging clients. The agency's Waiver Services Division supported more than 630 participants, representing more than $25 million in services.

BRADD's Community and Economic Development Division administered $197 million in funding across 112 regional projects. Meanwhile, the Office of Drug Control Policy helped advance the Anchor Project, which will support the region's first mental health and substance use crisis intake center.

The office also distributed more than 170 recovery backpacks to regional jails and reported more than 500 lives saved through the administration of naloxone.

The meeting concluded with a focus on building upon the agency's accomplishments and strengthening partnerships to address emerging needs across the Barren River region.