Business View Civil and Municipal l December 2022

119 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 These retailers support a growing tourism industry, spearheaded in part by property owners renting their properties online. Several second-story mixed-use properties in downtown Glasgow were purchased and renovated by local investors and are rented as vacation and getaway properties for visitors. “We have a number of historical buildings that have been bought and those owners are making upgrades to them,” says Carpenter. “They see Glasgow as a great opportunity for (property investments).” Carpenter confirmed there are several plans underway to increase infrastructure investment in Glasgow to benefit residents, business owners, and visitors. One is a 10-year plan for water and sewer upgrades around the city. Electrical capabilities and user needs will also be expanded. A second is to extend the broadband reach beyond the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods. Glasgow is a “gigabyte city” which means a large portion of the city has access to 1GB of online connectivity. Extending that to more rural areas along the outskirts of town can help to provide more affordable broadband to those residents. Another newer infrastructure addition is related to the increase in electric vehicle usage. According to Carpenter, Glasgow is noticing the presence of more EVs in town from its residents and visitors. Glasgow leadership wants to capitalize on this trend by being on the leading edge of automotive technology through the installation of charging stations throughout downtown. These efforts will help Glasgow keep more young professionals in the community, which is key for future growth. Many of those young professionals eventually get married, have kids, and establish roots as long-term taxpayers and residents. Other ways to attract young professionals include the establishment of three- disc golf courses in conjunction with the city’s parks and recreation department, the growth of arts and entertainment options, the opening of new restaurants, and more. Additional outdoor recreation plans are also key, Carpenter says. GLASGOW, KENTUCKY Strong attention is paid to industrial development as well. The Authority has built the 152-acre South Cooper Industrial Park with the help of over $6 million it raised from investors and grant funding. Two sites are graded and ready for development, US 68/80 has been widened and turn lanes added for trucks and transportation on Beltline Boulevard, an access road leading into the park. As the front 152-acre space is being filled in by employers, Glasgow has started to build out the back 100 acres, starting with designing and making it ready to build ready. Carpenter expects more employers to move into the park over the next few years. The chamber of commerce for Glasgow and Barren County are combined with its Economic Authority to provide seamless business and industry services. The organizations market to its audience through a print magazine published once a year, online videos, and more. One of the authority’s major efforts is promoting both the downtown area and its many outdoor recreational opportunities for people of all ages and interests.