WINTERS HAS EXPERIENCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Ken Winters has played pivotal roles in economic development in Western Kentucky and Kentucky as a whole. Winters has influenced corporate decisions regarding location of industrial facilities to the area while he was Dean of Murray State University’s College of Industry and Technology. In addition to these activities, he worked to strengthen the business and industry base while serving on numerous economic development committees and task forces.
A noteworthy example of influencing a manufacturing company to locate a plant in West Kentucky involved the Briggs and Stratton Company. The available Manufacturing Engineering Technology program in the College of Industry and Technology, and the college’s Office of Training Services, played a significant role in the Briggs and Stratton decision to open their new plant in Murray, Kentucky. Winters, Dean of the College of Industry and Technology, also worked with Briggs and Stratton in implementing an innovative new second shift (6 hour) utilizing Murray State students as the work force. This has proven to be valuable to the student work force as well as Briggs and Stratton.
Murray State University, Western Kentucky Community and Technology College, UK Engineering School in Paducah, and Mid-Continent University bring many great resources to the First District. Winters has the knowledge and the experience to use these valuable tools for the benefit on Western Kentucky.
CAMPBELLSVILLE APPAREL COMPANY: A lesson in making opportunities from loss
Winters again had the chance to work with and develop industry while serving as President of Campbellsville University.
During his tenure there, Fruit of the Loom (approximately 4,000 employees) and Batesville Casket Company (over 200 employees) left Campbellsville. The community responded by bringing all possible resources to bear in its industrial recruitment efforts including the university and its leadership. Winters was highly involved in these efforts and soon the community’s employment level was at a level similar to what existed before the loss of the plants.
Winters joined a group of 39 individuals in a noteworthy initiative to start a new manufacturing plant – Campbellsville Apparel Company. The company started production on March 8, l999. The company currently has approximately 200 employees and is a vital part of the local economy.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
The above examples are just a few of the experiences Winters has had in working with industrial recruitment and development. He has not only helped locate and attract industries to Kentucky, but has experience in establishing new companies, providing new jobs, and providing new tax resources. We need this experience to represent the First District in the State Senate.