The Lake Barkley Partnership serves to invest resources in a manner that creates a strong, resilient, and diverse economic region in Crittenden, Caldwell, and Livingston, Lyon Counties.

AREAS OF FOCUS

• Business Retention and Expansion. Develop a program to meet regularly with existing business and economic partners to help facilitate business retention, expansion, and job creation.
• Workforce Development. Fill existing job openings in the region by collaborating with employers, educators, and service providers to build a local workforce that can fill current and future workforce.
• Marketing and Promotion. Design and implement website and communication strategy to increase awareness about the Lake Barkley Partnership’s assets and activities.
• Niche Sector Development.  Work with existing industries to develop niche sectors that will help strengthen and diversify the regional economy. These sectors will also be used in industrial recruitment projects. Recruitment will be very targeted and will identify firms that complement the existing economy, strengthen industry synergy, and utilize existing workforce.  
• Build Regional Alliances. Continually network with service providers, governmental agencies, utilities, education institutions, and industry organizations to remain informed about resources available in the region.
• Investor Engagement. Bring in investors to review and analyze the benefits of investment, target new investors, and ensure satisfactory engagement with current investors.​

From the beginning

Where  we  are  now

The Lake Barkley Partnership was originally formed as the Caldwell-Lyon Partnership for Economic Development more than 10 years ago as a joint effort to consolidate resources for economic development in Western Kentucky. Since that time, the partnership has worked on several successful projects such as the expansion at Hydro-Gear, certification as a Work Ready Community, certification of a Build Ready site, and renovations at the Eddyville Riverport.

The Lake Barkley Partnership for Economic Development is currently a three county organization with members from Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, and Lyon counties. The partnership has recently reorganized to create a regional partnership for economic development. The organization has hired a full-time director to oversee economic activity in all four counties. The regionalism approach will allow the area to share resources and be more competitive in state.

​Leaders   of   industry

Our Board of Directors is comprised of representatives with expertise in manufacturing, education, health care, finance and government. The Board of Directors are committed to building a resilient and prosperous region in Western Kentucky.

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Board Members

PRESIDENT TIM CAPPS, PAR 4 PLASTICS
VICE PRESIDENT JEFF MCDANIELS, FARMERS BANK AND TRUST, PRINCETON
TREASURER BOB HAYES
ADAM LEDFORD, CITY OF MARION ADMINISTRATOR
BILLY RAY COURSEY, EDDYVILLE RIVERPORT AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ​
CHARLIE DAY, FIRST UNITED BANK, MARION
CHRIS COOK, FARMERS BANK AND TRUST, MARION
DAN ODEGAARD, CALDWELL MEDICAL CENTER
DANN HUGHES, TRICE HUGHES​
GARRETT GRUBER, LIVINGSTON COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE
JAKE PEPPER, PLANTERS BANK
​JASON VINCENT, PENNYRILE AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
JAY CAMPBELL, FREDONIA VALLEY BANK
JOE MCENANEY, MCDONALDS RESTAURANT
​KEVIN KIZZEE, PRINCETON ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
KOTA YOUNG, MAYOR OF  CITY OF PRINCETON
LARRY CURLING, CALDWELL COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE
LESLYE KRAMPE, KENERGY
PERRY NEWCOM, CRITTENDEN COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE 
TODD WETZEL, ATTORNEY ​​
WADE WHITE, LYON COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE 

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Executive Director
Amanda Davenport was hired as the Executive Director for the regional Lake Barkley Partnership in 2018. Davenport manages and coordinates economic development in Caldwell, Crittenden and Lyon Counties. Davenport has a background in rural economic development, county government, and small business management.

Davenport received her Master of Business Administration at Texas Woman’s University and her Bachelor of Arts at Murray State University. She is a certified Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator through BREI. Davenport is a member of the Kentucky Association of Economic Development and is pursuing her Economic Development Certification through the International Economic Development Council.

Contact Amanda at amanda@thinkrural.com or 270.385.0070

Board   Members