WKCTC Hosts Virtual Regional Economic Development Roundtable

Paducah, KY (11/09/2020) — West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Workforce Solutions department recently hosted a virtual economic development roundtable. The roundtable was originally planned to be an in-person event but with the spike in COVID cases in the region, the discussion had to pivot to virtual.

Jeff Taylor, Business Development Commissioner with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, led the discussion. Economic development representatives, with 100% attendance from across the region assembled to discuss how regionalism can benefit all when it comes to economic development.

"Since we weren't able to have our annual Business Symposium this last spring, I felt it was necessary to have this discussion because it impacts all of us in the region," said Kevin O'Neill, Vice President of Regional Workforce Training and Economic Development at WKCTC. "We appreciated the opportunity to host the roundtable and look forward to future events."

O'Neill and Chris Wooldridge, Director of the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development at Murray State University, led a discussion of the role of higher education on economic development.

O'Neill said everyone in attendance agreed that being united as a region was important and that future discussions need to take place formally as well as informally to keep momentum going.