A Citizens Guide to Kentucky Infrastructure

Posted by Content Coordinator on Thursday, May 25th, 2017

KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Kentucky is in a prime spot — within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the nation’s population. That makes the Commonwealth a key site for industries needing to transport products across the country. In fact, University of Kentucky economists report more than a quarter of the state’s economy is made up of industries highly dependent on transportation. National surveys of corporate executives rank highway accessibility as the top factor in business location decisions. All of that means transportation infrastructure maintained in top condition is a key requirement for a healthy economy

Of course, transportation is just one part of the infrastructure that keeps Kentucky working, producing and growing. This review takes a look at the current condition of the state’s various infrastructure elements, such as highways, bridges, riverports, utilities and broadband, and identifies needs that would strengthen the state’s structural backbone in key areas. Here’s a quick rundown, followed by more detailed information.

Kentucky Key Facts

Kentucky’s budget is under pressure – from public pension, Medicaid costs and other programs – so money will be hard to come by to address these critical infrastructure problems. But there is a way to make progress.

The Kentucky Chamber calls for the aggressive use of the state’s new public private partnership (P3) law to leverage private-sector investments to expand and maintain the infrastructure essential to the economic growth of the Commonwealth.

Overview

Infrastructure is broadly defined as physical capital investments that support a community and its economy. Government traditionally finances such infrastructure projects as roads and bridges, while the private sector generally supports others, such as electric utilities and telecommunications.

The importance of infrastructure to the lives and livelihoods of citizens is reflected in the strong public support for government spending on such projects. A March 2016 Gallup poll found 75% of Americans favored spending more federal money to improve infrastructure (including roads, buildings and waterways).

Infrastructure–especially roads, bridges and airports–is particularly important to Kentucky’s economy because of the Commonwealth’s prime location. As the Cabinet for Economic Development notes, Kentucky sits at the center of a 34-state distribution area in the eastern United States. This facilitates the distribution of “goods and materials to a massive industrial and consumer market.”

In addition, Kentucky is the nation’s third largest automotive producing state and is home to major logistics companies. This makes quality infrastructure critical to the success of the Commonwealth’s business community and to the health and growth of its economy.

Many of the factors that affect the state’s prospects for economic prosperity can be subject to change. But there is one certainty the state can count on year after year, regardless of taxes or workforce or regulatory environment or anything else:

Kentucky - location location location

About the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
www.kychamber.com
From its beginnings more than 65 years ago, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has evolved into the premier business association in the state. Today, the Kentucky Chamber represents 3,800 member businesses – from family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies – that employ over half of the Commonwealth’s workforce.

Tags: , , ,

Comments are closed.

Follow InfraUSA on Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr

CATEGORIES


Show us your infra! Show us your infra!

Video, stills and tales. Share images of the Infra in your community that demands attention. Post your ideas about national Infra issues. Go ahead. Show Us Your Infra!  Upload and instantly share your message.

Polls Polls

Is the administration moving fast enough on Infra issues? Are Americans prepared to pay more taxes for repairs? Should job creation be the guiding determination? Vote now!

Views

What do the experts think? This is where the nation's public policy organizations, trade associations and think tanks weigh in with analysis on Infra issues. Tell them what you think.  Ask questions.  Share a different view.

Blog

The Infra Blog offers cutting edge perspective on a broad spectrum of Infra topics. Frequent updates and provocative posts highlight hot button topics -- essential ingredients of a national Infra dialogue.


Dear Friends,

 

It is encouraging to finally see clear signs of federal action to support a comprehensive US infrastructure investment plan.

 

Now more than ever, our advocacy is needed to keep stakeholders informed and connected, and to hold politicians to their promises to finally fix our nation’s ailing infrastructure.

 

We have already engaged nearly 280,000 users, and hoping to add many more as interest continues to grow.

 

We require your support in order to rise to this occasion, to make the most of this opportunity. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to InfrastructureUSA.org.

 

Steve Anderson

Managing Director

 

SteveAnderson@InfrastructureUSA.org

917-940-7125

InfrastructureUSA: Citizen Dialogue About Civil Infrastructure