I start this piece with a simple, heartfelt thank you. Having just spent the holiday with family and friends we have many things to be thankful for. As the season heads to Christmas and the New Year, the Ashland Alliance has been blessed on many levels. The place we call home is special and each one of you makes it better.
On October 25, the Ashland Alliance held its 20th Annual Meeting at EastPark in the new Veloxint Building. This event hosted 980 people to hear a recap of 2018 and a preview of 2019. It featured Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Craig Bouchard, CEO of Braidy Industries, as well as Matt Satterwhite, president of Kentucky Power, Shannon Wright, president of Wright Concrete, Matt Gilliam from Steel of West Virginia and Robert Slagel of Portable Solutions Group.
The focus of the evening was growth, development, and hope for the region. It was an uplifting experience for the audience in attendance that night. We have a video of the event on the Ashland Alliance web page for anyone that didn’t have a chance to experience it firsthand. I hope our event was more than just a first-hand account of the change under way in the region. I hope this event is the symbol of what is under way and why.
I spoke in the last issue as to why this is the time and place this is happening and it is even more accurate now. This community has found its way. The Alliance is proud to have the baton. It is hard to describe the honor I felt walking out and looking over nearly 1,000 people in a place that over the next decade will change the world.
Ashland has been a special place for decades. We heard Gov. Bevin speak about how this community, even in its darker days, always had the pride of the past and its future. He spoke of Central Park and the Winter Wonderland of Lights and the annual Christmas Parade we just had. It is noteworthy to say our Christmas Parade is the largest in the state — it had nearly 4,000 people in it! This community and region simply has pride in what it does, and it shows to anyone we have the opportunity to encounter.
As you embrace the Christmas Spirit and spend time with your families, I want you to know that your Chamber of Commerce and economic development organization is ready for the New Year. We will be prepared to run and to keep the momentum flowing.
Mr. Bouchard mentioned at our Annual Meeting the number of companies that have visited; many of which are getting closer to deciding they too want to be in our region. And it makes sense. Companies that use aluminum and lightweight materials typically have waste from the production process that can be recycled, this reduces the cost of manufacturing and shipping by being located close to the source of the raw materials they need. This, along with very targeted recruiting, will keep the growth going in our region. It is our commitment to you to do the work and work the opportunities.
I want to end by saying it is our pleasure to serve you and your businesses. Your business is the most important there is. We recognize that existing business is the core of the fabric of our community. The Ashland Alliance is proud to represent and assist you in this season of thanks and into the New Year. We have many things to be thankful for and we are just getting started.
Happy Holidays from the Alliance!
