Question from C.Black

Mayor Connelly, I was recently in the new arts center having lunch with friends. One of which is friends with a gentleman that had plans for a new factory here in Berea.He's been living in Berea for at least two years trying to get this off the ground. Seems there has been a problem with purchasing the land from the city. It doesn't appear that we have people beating the doors down on that piece of property. He had talked with Mayor Kerby when he was in office on the piece of property. Now the price has jumped quite a bit. The WORST of the problem now is, he's going to TENNESSEE ! Thats alot of job loss for our community , not to mention the loss of tax money for the city. I just hate that we have lost a chance for more employment for our community. We have so many people driving to Lex. Georgetown etc...... I feel bad for the families that have to make such a drive when we could've had something right here.

Steve Connelly answered:

The "friend of your friend" had plans to build a factory but little money. After his option to purchase land ran out, the Industrial Development Authority lost confidence in his ability to make his deal work. If he is going to Tennessee, he will not be taking any jobs that Berea would have gotten.