A LOCAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR TO SERVE ON THE GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON MILITARY BASE REALIGNMENT.

            A RELEASE FROM THE GOVERNOR SAYS DON HENDERSON OF HOPKINSVILLE WILL REPRESENT THE FORT CAMPBELL AREA ON THE TASK FORCE CREATED IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT THE STATE’S EFFORTS IN EXPEDITING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS 2005 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE, OR BRAC, RECOMMENDATIONS.

            BESHEAR SAYS IN THE RELEASE THE TEAM WILL PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN ACCOMMODATING THE BRAC TRANSFORMATION TASKS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.  HE SAYS THE CENTRAL CHARGE OF THE TASK FORCE WILL ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS THE REALIGNMENT WILL REQUIRE, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY WATER AND SEWER AVAILABILITY, EDUCATIONAL DEMANDS AND OVERALL ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS.

            ACCORDING TO THE RELEASE, THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT FROM FEDERAL SOURCES WHEN BRAC IS IMPLEMENTED FULLY IS EXPECTED TO BECOME THE LARGEST SINGLE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT IN KENTUCKY’S HISTORY. 

            BEFORE THE END OF 2011, APPROXIMATELY FIVE-THOUSAND NEW MILITARY AND CIVILIAN JOBS WILL HAVE BEEN CREATED ALONG WITH 77-HUNDRED FAMILY MEMBERS MOVING TO THE COMMONWEALTH.  THESE PRIMARILY ARE HIGH-TECH, UPPER-LEVEL PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FOR NEW COMMANDS AND ROLES AT FORT KNOX.