PADD hears update on Ascend Elements investment

Ascend Elements recently announced plans to create 250 jobs with a $310 million investment in Commerce Park #2 and the Pennyrile Area Development District Board of Directors heard an update on the plans at their monthly meeting Monday.

South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council Executive Director Carter Hendricks says there’s reason for hope that Ascend will have future expansions and create additional jobs.

He says the workforce will come from around the region.

Hendricks is hopeful the announcement is a sign of things to come for western Kentucky’s place in the electric vehicle industry.

Ascened Elements is a producer of advanced, sustainable battery materials made from recycled lithium-ion batteries.

State Representative Walker Thomas was also among those speaking and he mentioned the real possibility the General Assembly will be called into special session to provide relief to eastern Kentucky counties devastated by flooding.