Hardin County Chamber Of Commerce Welcomes Kentucky Secretary of Economic Development

The Hardin County Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting was held Wednesday. The keynote speaker was Jeff Noel, Kentucky’s Secretary of Economic Development. Noel praised not only government and local leaders for their hard work to secure the Blue Oval SK project but the community for their efforts to make the company feel welcome to the community before the decision was made. “The world is looking at us. The world is talking about Elizabethtown. Hardin County. Kentucky. You know, economic development is one of the most ill defined, misunderstood professions that exist. But I can boil it down in a very simple way. And that is tell people what you are gonna do, get it done, live up to all of your obligations and do it on time. Companies hate uncertainty and data, knowledge, understanding and information is that you remove uncertainty in the corporate boardroom,” stated Secretary Noel. Secretary Noel also feels that economic development is not done solely through business deals. “I’m a big believer that economic development is not about cutting the ribbons. It’s not about announcing the jobs. It’s really about understanding that this is about helping people. It all begins with making sure that individuals have access to their fulfilled dreams, to have that opportunity and they have a good job.” Secretary Noel also stated that by securing the Blue Oval SK project, Hardin County helped attract other automotive industry projects to the state by setting an example of what Kentuckians have to offer to companies.