Webster County Judge/Executive Steve Henry, seated at panel table second from left, participated in the "Charting the Path Ahead: A Blueprint for Economic Prosperity" at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference July 19. Henry serves as chairman of the Green River Area Development District Board of Directors and on the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts Board of Directors.
TAMPA, Florida—The national spotlight was on the Green River Area Development District (GRADD) Sunday, July 14, when Webster County Judge/Executive Steve Henry participated in a panel on local economic development strategies at the 2024 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference, held this year in Tampa, Florida.
Henry, who serves as chairman of the GRADD Board of Directors and on the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts (KCADD) Board of Directors, was invited to speak as part of the "Charting the Path Ahead: A Blueprint for Economic Prosperity" panel. Organizers were specifically interested in Henry's involvement with GRADD at the regional level, focusing on strategies to overcome economic shocks from the coal industry and efforts to diversify the local energy economy.
Henry's presentation emphasized the importance of leveraging and stacking grants as a critical funding strategy for economic development, particularly in rural communities. He highlighted the crucial role of Area Development Districts (ADDs) in securing these funds.
"GRADD is my first call," Henry said. "Counties need to involve themselves with their ADDs. It goes beyond sending an application in. Getting in front of people who can answer questions is key. That's why I always ask my ADD to accompany me when talking to decision-makers. They have the knowledge and ability to answer the technical questions."
Henry added that Webster County is a prime example of what a county can accomplish by working alongside an ADD.
He also reflected on his tenure as chairman of GRADD, noting that his involvement with ADDs since becoming Judge/Executive has significantly shaped his understanding of economic development in Western Kentucky.
"The ADDs touch almost every economic development project," Henry added. "Their relationship with all the stakeholders puts the ADDs in a place to really help."
In addition to serving on both the GRADD and KCADD Boards, Henry also chaired the KCADD Legislative Committee during the 2024 Legislative Session.
He encouraged fellow county officials to be proactive and involved, advising them to engage with state legislators and stay ahead of legislative developments that could impact their communities.
###
For more information, please contact Green River Area Development District Public Information Officer Jessie Saalwaechter at jessiesaalwaechter@gradd.com or Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts Public Information Officer Molly Haines at mhaines@kcadd.org.
Comentarios