Photo: Jim Askins of KY Wired speaks to Fiscal Court
Christian Fiscal Court approved loans for an existing industry and for the local airport Tuesday morning and heard an update on the Kentucky Wired project.
Magistrates approved a $250,000 loan from the revolving loan fund at a 1.5 percent rate over a 10 year term. Amy Frogue is the associate director of the Pennyrile Area Development District and says the collaborative effort to make the $3.1 million expansion possible should create 60 to 80 new jobs.
Officials have not identified the industry planning to expand, citing a confidentiality agreement.
The Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport Board plans to construct 10 new hangars at the local facility and magistrates approved a $300,000 loan from the same fund to assist in that project. It will be paid back at a 1.5 percent interest rate over a term of 12 years. Dan Marquess chairs the Revolving Loan Fund Committee and says there is a waiting list 10 spots long to rent a hangar at $275 monthly. The Airport Board is financing $229,000 of the project on its own.
Meanwhile, Jim Askins with Kentucky Wired says that initiative will eventually bring broadband to 17 separate sites in Christian County that will serve as hubs for private and public entities to tap into to expand access into underserved areas.
Askins says members of the public with questions about Kentucky Wired can call 1-888-511-9918.
In other action, fiscal court approved bids for road department needs in the upcoming fiscal year and renewed Christian County Animal Shelter service contracts with Todd and Trigg counties.