10/22/2026
Last night, I attended a community meeting hosted by General Matter, the company who is investing $1.5 billion to build the nation’s first U.S.-owned, privately developed uranium enrichment facility.
This is a significant development for our region, with the potential to bring substantial investment, good-paying jobs, and new economic opportunities to western Kentucky. Of course, with a project of this nature, safety, environmental protection, and responsible oversight must remain top priorities.
There's also an interesting connection to Livingston County's history. Our county was once known for its fluorspar mining industry, and fluorine chemistry plays an important role in the uranium enrichment process. While that doesn't necessarily mean our local fluorspar will be used, it's a reminder of how our region's industrial past connects to the industries shaping its future and the possible opportunities that lie ahead.
*So why did I feel it was important to attend a meeting about a project in another county?*
--1. Opportunity doesn't stop at the county line.--
This facility is just a short drive from Livingston County. That means potential employment opportunities for our residents, as well as opportunities to attract new families to our community.
I intend to stay informed and involved so that Livingston Countians know about employment opportunities as they become available. I'm also exploring ways we can better market our vacant homes, available land, and rural lifestyle to workers and families who may be relocating to the region.
We have a beautiful county, a wonderful community, and plenty to offer people looking for a place to put down roots. We need to do a better job of telling that story.
Drastic growth is coming to Paducah, and we need to get ready.
--2. Relationships matter, and Livingston County needs a seat at the table.--
For far too long, I believe Livingston County has operated too independently of our surrounding counties. We have sometimes treated our county lines like walls and as history has taught us, isolationism isn't a good strategy.
Throughout my career, I've worked to build strong, positive relationships with leaders across western Kentucky and beyond. Those relationships open doors, create opportunities, and give our county a voice in conversations that can shape our future.
We are living in an age of regional cooperation and economic development. It isn't enough to sit within our four corners and hope businesses come looking for us. We have to be willing to reach out, make connections, and give them a reason to consider Livingston County.
--3. We can learn from our neighbors without becoming them.--
Attending events like this gives me an opportunity to see what other communities are doing to encourage job creation and economic growth. I can learn what's working, what isn't, and what lessons we might bring home.
We don't want to become McCracken County or Marshall County. Livingston County has its own identity, its own strengths, and a way of life worth protecting. But that doesn't mean we can't learn from their successes or avoid repeating their mistakes.
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Economic growth doesn't happen by sitting back and waiting for opportunity to knock.
It takes showing up. It takes asking questions, building relationships, doing your homework, and sometimes being the person who makes the first phone call.
I will continue showing up, staying informed, building those relationships, and advocating for Livingston County every chance I get. Not every opportunity will be right for us, and I will always believe in protecting the character and natural beauty of our county. But we should never miss a good opportunity simply because we weren't paying attention.
