By Anne Thrower athrower@paducahsun.com--270.575.8653

Saturday, June 17, 2006

The Greater Paducah Economic Development Council already has pledges for 78 percent of its $5 million fundraising goal, officials announced Friday at the official kickoff of a new campaign aimed at attracting more jobs to the area.

While $3.9 million has already been pledged, GPEDC officials hope they can exceed the goal over the next four years. About $4.2 million was spent the past five years for job recruiting.

GPEDC has hired Stellar Fundraising Executives Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., to help with the Greater Paducah Partners for Progress campaign. Terry Cusack, Stellar's founder and chief executive officer, said Friday that it's common to have pledges totaling 50 percent of the goal, but the 78 percent amount is the highest he has seen.

Cusack said the pledges represent about 50 companies. "We should have 300 investors," he said. "We don't want a club, we want a community. "

Paducah Mayor Bill Paxton and McCracken County Judge-Executive Danny Orazine are the general campaign co-chairmen. "Economic development is a tough business," Paxton said. "It's the only business you can finish second and you don't get a dog-gone thing."

While the last five years has been successful, Paxton said there is room for improvement. "In five years, USEC is leaving .... We've got to replace those jobs, that's why this is so critical," he said.

Eight other local business leaders are also serving as chairpersons, including Joe Framptom with Paducah Bank, Rex Smith with Jim Smith Contracting, Ronnie James with James Marine, Bill Jones with US Bank, G. Kelly Nuckols with Jackson Purchase Energy, Danny Evitts with Independence Bank and Helen Sims and Mike Sims with Superior Care Home.

Several business leaders emphasized Friday the need to include existing businesses in its efforts to bring more jobs to the area. "We have to think of new ways to create jobs," GPEDC Chairman David Denton said.

He likened it to rowing a boat with two oars rather than one. Denton said the economic development council will still continue to go after the "big score," while working with existing businesses.

Paxton said it was mistake in the past to not work more closely with existing businesses. "We are ready to move forward," he said.

Paxton said he met with Judge-Executive-elect Van Newberry for two hours recently. "I'm confident we can work together to keep the momentum going," he said.

Newberry was among the 150 people who attended the fundraising kickoff. He said afterward he was pleased with the direction of GPEDC.

GPEDC President Wayne Sterling told the crowd that there have been 122 site visits since he started working three years ago. Sterling said he is presently working on 37 projects.