Bowling Green, KY 2013 Community Profile by Tivoli Design + Media Group

2 0 1 3

E d i t i o n

a CommunityLink Publication

VP of Production Operations Amanda White Director of Publication Design Kelly Friederich Managing Editor Laura Wilcoxen Contributing Writers David Ballard, Katie Beard, Jennifer Bull, Betsy Cooksey, Jay Nehrkorn, Alan Palmer, Laura Wilcoxen Photography Coordinator Jay Nehrkorn Photography Shawna Williams Cover Photos Tom Kessler Additional Images Provided by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Bowling Green Independent Schools, Bowling Green Parks & Recreation, Bowling Green Retirement Village, Graves-Gilbert Clinic, Greenview Hospital, Kentucky Down Under, Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Clinton Lewis, Lost River Cave, The Medical Center, Devin Miller, National Corvette Museum, Orchestra Kentucky, Plaza Theatre, RJ Corman Railroad, SKyPAC, Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College, Warren County Public Schools, Warren County Water District, Warren RECC, WKU, YAMI Lead Design Kelly Friederich

Director of GIS Aimee Wheatley Website Creation & Support Josh Chandler Director of Media Purchasing Diana Vaughn Director of Business Development George Prudhomme Director of Outside Sales Debbie Moss Business Development Manager Bonnie Ebers Customer Service Director Kathy Risley Ad Research Mary Kopshever, Mildred Walker Ad Traffic Carol Smith Ad Design Mindy Brock, Josh Mueller Administrative Support Kathy Hagene, Carol Smith Account Support Terri Ahner Human Resources Assistant Teresa Craig Mailroom Technician Melinda Bowlin Publishing Systems Specialist Christopher Miller Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Harsy Chairman & Founder Craig Williams

This book is published by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce with CommunityLink, a publishing service of Craig Williams Creative, Inc. Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Tonya L. Matthews – Vice President, Chamber Operations Jessica Thompson – Marketing & Communications Director 710 College St., P.O. Box 51, Bowling Green, KY 42102 Phone 270-781-3200, Fax 270-843-0458 U.S. Toll-Free 866-330-2422 www.bgchamber.com 4742 Holts Prairie Road, P.O. Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274 Phone 800-455-5600 Fax 866-381-9759 www.communitylink.com © 2013 Craig Williams Creative, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

table of contents

what’s

Inside

2013 Edition overview

Chairman’s Comments................................ 6 Region’s Assets........................................... 8

community profile

The Bowling Green Area by the Numbers...13

community spirit

Serving in South Central Kentucky............15

government

Hearing From Our Elected Leaders............19 Our Elected Representatives.....................20

utilities

Power Through Their People......................22

business & industry

Overview...................................................27 Magnet for Business, Catalyst for Growth.... 29 Kentucky Transpark...................................33 Central Region ICC....................................34 Small Business — Big Impact....................36 Innovation in New Locations.....................37

education

Bowling Green Independent Schools Promote Healthy Eating...........................40 New Warren County Schools Model Energy Conservation......................41 www.bgchamber.com

table of contents Private School Options.............................42 The Leader in Me™...................................42 What’s New at WKU..................................43 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College............46

real estate

Residential Real Estate.............................50 Commercial Real Estate............................52

healthcare

The Medical Center...................................55 Graves-Gilbert Clinic.................................56 TriStar Greenview......................................57 Working Well.............................................58 Specialized Healthcare.............................59 The Center for Courageous Kids................61 Retiring in South Central Kentucky............62

worship

A Community of Faith and Diversity...........64 Area Chamber-Partner Congregations.......65

entertainment & culture

SKyPAC.....................................................68 Spotlight on Theatre.................................69 Music.......................................................70 Celebrate!................................................71

recreation & tourism

A Tourism Trend.........................................75 Bowling Green Hot Rods...........................76 Cool Caves................................................77 National Corvette Museum.......................78 Beech Bend..............................................79 Historic Railpark & Train Museum at the L&N Depot....................................79 Park Mammoth Resort..............................80 BG Parks Fit 5 for ’13...............................80 South Central Kentucky Attractions...........81 South Central Kentucky Public Parks & Recreation Centers...........82

index of advertisers

Index of Advertisers & Preferred Businesses............................83 4

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

section title

overview

www.bgchamber.com

overview

Chairman’s

Comments Focused on the Future

am honored to serve as the 2013 chairman of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. We have received local, state and national awards for our excellence in operations, programs and communications. Our proud history includes the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and a 5-Star Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. South Central Kentucky is a very unique region, one that is focused on the future and that approaches any project with a “can do” attitude. Bowling Green has been ranked as a finalist for the All-American Cities Awards by the National Civic League, and we’ve also been recognized as one of the best places to live and play by National Geographic Adventure. Our region has experienced the largest private sector job growth in Kentucky from 2001 to 2010, and we’re consistently named one of the top communities for industry location and expansion projects for communities of our size National recognition isn’t the only reason our communities continue to prosper. We have a strong sense of family and a progressive mindset that lead to interesting collaborative efforts throughout our partnership. An example would be our ‘i love bg’ campaign. It is a grassroots effort to capture and grow residents’ pride in Bowling Green. Additionally, our city is thriving with the downtown redevelopment projects. These include a state-of-the-art minor league baseball park, a parking garage with residential and professional office space and the new South Central Kentucky Performing Arts Center. Another testament to our community’s strength is our commitment to education. Our school systems — from preschool to postgraduate — are pledged to quality education and regularly surpass state and national averages in ACT scores, graduation rates and more. In fact, the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science — the high school located within Western Kentucky University — was named the No. 1 public high school in the United

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

States by Newsweek in 2012! And, because of the collaboration between the Chamber and the City and County schools, Bowling Green-Warren County is poised to become the first community in the nation to implement The Leader in Me™ in all schools and all grades, K-12. The Leader in Me™ emphasizes the 21st century skills our schools are already teaching, and we’re eager to help our schools continue their level of success. As you enjoy this magazine, you’ll find even more reasons why people live, work and play in Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky. You’ll see why we are a region that is thriving, one that has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, one we call “Home.”

Brad Howard 2013 Chairman of the Board of Directors Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science was named the No. 1 public high school in the United States by Newsweek in 2012.

overview

Region’s

Assets

A Natural Hub for Business

By Chamber

Commerce Staff

outh Central Kentucky is a group of diverse counties and communities working together to create a competitive environment in which business and industry thrive. Located on Interstate 65 and within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population, the region is a natural hub for business throughout the United States and beyond.

Growing Population South Central Kentucky has a population of more than 284,000 and a labor force of more than 138,000, and it saw a healthy growth rate of 11.4 percent from 2000 to 2010, higher than both Kentucky’s and the national average. Warren County (home to Bowling Green) grew by nearly 23 percent and had the highest private-sector job growth per capita from 2000 to 2010.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

overview Labor Force South Central Kentucky offers access to a labor force of nearly 750,000 within a 120-mile radius and is expected to grow by an additional 45,000 by 2018 (Applied Geographic Solutions, 2012). Extending past Louisville, Ky.; Evansville, Ind.; and Nashville, Tenn., this labor force is part of a larger population of more than 1.47 million residents. Warren County (population 118,000) has a labor force of more than 61,000 with a current job growth rate of 18.31 percent. Daily, nearly 10,000 people from 51 Kentucky counties commute to Bowling Green. The quality of the workforce in Warren County is a valuable factor that complements the availability of labor. Warren County was one of the first recognized as a Work Ready Community by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, which certifies that Warren County has the workforce capacity to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies that new jobs will require in the future.

Access Interstate 65 runs directly through the South Central Kentucky region to the northern and southern U.S. populations, and the region is also served by five Kentucky parkways, giving businesses and travelers direct access to Interstate 75 to the east and Interstate 24 to the west. This centralized location for automotive transportation simplifies shipping needs in Bowling Green-Warren County. With the UPS international air hub located at the Louisville International Airport and DHL Express’s United States global “super hub” at the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport, shipping and distribution are easy for companies in South Central Kentucky; also, Bowling Green is home to facilities for DHL Express, UPS and FedEx.

International Airports

Distance from Bowling Green

Nashville One hour International Airport

Nonstop Service Markets

Passengers in 2011

50 (national and international)

9.5 million

Louisville < Two hours International Airport

28 (national)

3.4 million

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky > Three hours International Airport

53 (national and international)

7 million

Warren County was one of the first recognized as a Work Ready Community by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, which certifies that Warren County has the workforce capacity to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies that new jobs will require in the future. www.bgchamber.com

overview Rail Barren, Edmonson, Hart, Simpson and Warren counties in South Central Kentucky are served by the main line of the CSX railroad that connects Louisville in the north and Nashville in the south. Logan County and Warren County are served by the R.J. Corman Railroad, which connects to the CSX main line.

Water The Owensboro water port is less than 80 miles from Bowling Green, handles more than 850,000 tons of cargo and includes 500,000 square feet of warehouse space. Just 73 miles away, the Port of Nashville (Tennessee) is a port of entry thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easily accessible via Interstate 65. Photo courtesy of RJ Corman Railroad

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

overview Low Costs According to Economy.com’s June 2010 edition of North American Business Cost Review, Bowling Green was ranked in the top 7 percent of 384 metropolitan areas for lowest overall business cost. These low costs are supported by a low cost of living in South Central Kentucky (10 percent lower than the national average) and a low tax burden. The state has the third-lowest average electric rates in the U.S., both at the industrial and residential level. Average wages in South Central Kentucky are 82 percent of the national average. Less than 5 percent of our workers are part of a labor union, and there have been no successful union organizing efforts in the past 5 years.

Education Education shines as one of the premier assets that make the area world class for business and industry. Warren County’s high school and postsecondary educational attainment rates are comparable to the U.S. population percentage. South Central Kentucky is home to numerous post-secondary institutions, including Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green Technical College, Daymar College and Lindsey Wilson College. More than 21,000 students are enrolled at Western Kentucky University, which has been the fastest-growing university in Kentucky for 15 consecutive years. The university offers ABET-accredited engineering programs in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering and is home to many research and development assets: • WKU Center for Research & Development • The only large-chamber scanning electron microscope at a North American university • The Applied Physics Institute • Central Region Innovation & Commercialization Center • Advanced Manufacturing Program Bowling Green Technical College, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (the nation’s fastest-growing technical college system), provides workforce training and degrees in a variety of fields along with international certifications.

Government South Central Kentucky is governed by dedicated officials who understand the value of business. Through state incentive packages, coupled with local incentives, the region provides a stable working environment with quality relationships between government and business.

Quality of Life Bowling Green has launched a $150 million downtown redevelopment project that includes the Bowling Green Ballpark — home to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, a Class A Midwest team and affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays — and the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC). Other additions include • Hitcents Park Plaza, with 40,000 square feet of available Class A office space and 37,330 square feet of retail and restaurant space. • A seven-block corridor leading to Western Kentucky University, with a parking garage and hotel. • A new Western Kentucky University nursing school adjacent to The Medical Center and Graves-Gilbert Clinic.

www.bgchamber.com

section title

community profile

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

community profile

Bowling Green is the third-largest city in Kentucky (2010 U.S. Census data).

Bowling Green-Warren County will be the first community in the nation to implement The Leader in Me™ in all schools, grades K through 12.

No. 1

Western Kentucky Warren County is one of the first counties in University’s Carol Martin Kentucky to be named a Work Ready Community. Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science is the No. 1 high school in America according to Newsweek (2012). Bowling Green

The first year that the WKU Hilltoppers were invited to a bowl game: 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl 2012

business

16 Number of South Central Kentucky economic development projects announced in 2011.

Consecutive years that the Bowling Green High School Purples have won the state football championship (2011-2012).

5-STAR The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has maintained a 5-Star accreditation rating, the highest level of accreditation awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, since 2009.

Warren County was ranked eighth in the nation in the Fourth Economic Community Index (2012) among small-sized counties that are ideally positioned for investment and growth.

rs.

17.8%

900

FIFTEEN

Consecutive years that Western Kentucky University has been the fastest-growing university in the state.

1800

Number of seats in the main hall of the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC).

thirty-two

small

and caree

five

Number of excellence awards received by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2012.

$1,000

’s Spot on

Forbes’ 2011 list of best places for

Growth rate of the population of Bowling Green between the 2000 Census (49,296) and the 2010 Census (58,067).

Number of acres

primed for industrial expansion within one mile of Interstate 65 at Kentucky Transpark.

Number of victories it took the WKU Men’s Basketball team to win the 2012 Sun Belt Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Community leaders participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Bowling Green program in 2012.

1,600

Number of new jobs projected to be created by 2015 by South Central Kentucky economic development projects.

3,538

Average attendance for the 67 home games played by the Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball team in 2011.

275,000+ Square feet of space dedicated to advances in applied technology and regional business growth at WKU’s Center for Research and Development.

11,647

One-year scholarship amount awarded to high school graduates who complete the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s Work Ethic Seal program and then go on to attend Bowling Green Technical College.

The total number of 2012 model Corvettes produced — each one made in Bowling Green.

MILLION $3

Amount being raised by the Bowling Green Area Chamber Foundation, the Bowling Green Independent Schools and the Warren County Public Schools for The Leader in Me™ Capital Campaign.

750,000+

third-largest

Warren County’s ranking among all counties in Kentucky for private sector job growth from 2001 to 2010.

>>>> V i s i t o r s t o u r e d B e e c h B e n d P a r k i n 2 0 1 1 .

The Bowling Green Area by the Numbers

www.bgchamber.com

section title

community spirit

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

community spirit

serving in

South Central

Kentucky

For a Better Quality of Life

hether celebrating a special hometown, supporting worthy causes or boosting local businesses, the region’s community service organizations are a big part of South Central Kentucky’s outstanding quality of life.

‘i love bg’ www.iheartbg.com

A unique campaign has Bowling Green residents proudly wearing their hearts on their sleeves — and on shirtfronts, cookies, windows, websites, buttons, baskets and more. What began two years ago as a simple doodle has inspired the hearts of many Bowling Green residents into a collective effort to celebrate their beloved community. Originally envisioned by successful businessman Leon Volkert, who wanted to celebrate the city he felt so fortunate to live in, ‘i love bg’ is spreading a positive, hometown message about Bowling Green. The movement’s logo has popped up all over town and even on national television — Tony Smith of local band Sleeper Agent proudly sported the ‘i love bg’ button during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

By David Ballard

Tim Earnhart is chief brand builder of Werkshop and a member of the ‘i love bg’ committee. He says he believes the movement’s prodigious start indicates its huge potential. “We envision having year-round events that will continue to raise awareness about this great city, raise money for various causes, and provide opportunities for our citizens to give back through volunteer efforts.” Already, the community has established a brand, commissioned an official ‘i love bg’ song, and begun an annual ‘i love bg’ Celebration, held in early June. The 2012 celebration featured a car show, discounts at multiple local businesses (if you were showing your ‘i love bg’ pride), a fun run and more. Earnhart says the response to the 2012 ‘i love bg’ Celebration week showed him just how proud residents are of the place they call home. Now, the hope is to replicate the initiative’s success throughout the community’s DNA. “We are looking at various new opportunities that we hope to launch in the very near future,” Earnhart said. “We don’t want to limit the visible efforts of the initiative to one week in early June as we celebrate ‘i love bg’ week, but spread it out throughout the year with multiple events and opportunities.”

Kentucky’s Assets • No. 1 in Cost of Living • No. 2 in Automotive Manufacturing Strength • No. 4 in Export Intensity • No. 8 in Job Placement Efficiency • No. 19 in Academic R&D Intensity •M ore than double (2.25x) the national concentration for the Transportation Equipment Manufacturing Cluster Visit www.southcentralky.com to learn more.

www.bgchamber.com

community spirit including cash, appreciated stock, real estate and collectibles. Quite simply, The Community Foundation is for anyone who has a giving heart and wants to support good causes in their community. For those individuals who know they want to give back but have not yet identified a specific area, Wethington says The Community Foundation can provide information and guidance. “We help donors understand the needs in the community then offer a diverse set of funding vehicles for charitable giving.” There are various funds donors can support:

Jennifer Wethington of THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY presents the 2012 South Central Kentuckian of the Year Award to the family of Charles Moore.

The Community Foundation of South Central Kentucky www.cfsky.org

“One of the many things I love about The Community Foundation is that it helps people support the causes they care about most,” said Jennifer Wethington, executive director of

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

The Community Foundation of South Central Kentucky. A one-stop shop for donors, The Community Foundation gives donors the opportunity to show their love for their community in a tangible and convenient way. Donors can give to multiple nonprofits and receive the highest tax benefit, and they may choose various means to do so,

• Unrestricted Funds: These comprise a pool of money The Community Foundation draws from to grant funds where they are needed most. • Donor-Advised Funds: This program allows donors interested in exerting more control over their giving to designate their funds for a specific purpose, allowing them to restrict where their money goes and what purpose it will serve. • Scholarships and specialized gifts. From the smallest gift to the largest, anyone can make a difference in the community by giving through The Community Foundation. For

community spirit Photo by Alix Mattingly

additional information, please contact Jennifer Wethington at 270-904-2079.

Second Saturdays www.downtownbg.org

Mark your calendars for the second Saturday of every month, April through September. Why? Because Second Saturdays, an ongoing Saturdayonly street fair/festival in downtown Bowling Green, is sure to delight you whether you are new to the area or a native. Held every year, Second Saturdays is located at Fountain Square Park, a focal point of downtown Bowling Green. Surrounding the Square’s historic fountain, statues and flowers are restored façades of 19th-century buildings, a renovated Art Deco movie theater and thriving businesses. The Square’s convenient, central location makes it a breeze for browsers — it’s within walking distance of all the shops and restaurants in the downtown area. Should you want to bring the little ones, a kid’s area features inflatables, rides, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and more. Other entertainment includes all-day live music, performed by students and professionals; face painting; balloon

twisting; horse/carriage rides; a kid’s arena with characters; a Bowling Green Fencing Academy show; performing artists; interactive crafts; and much more. Shoppers are sure to find that perfect, sought-after item: Over 40 vendor booths fill the park, selling arts and crafts, showcasing local businesses, and offering demonstrations. The merchants and businesses around the square also offer specials and discounts to shoppers on festival days. And, each month showcases a partner who has giveaways, free lessons and/or demonstrations, such as the BG Hot Rods baseball team, the local Red Cross, and the Bowling Green Fire Department. The street festival starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. The fair has food vendors that serve breakfast, lunch and snacks to satisfy your appetite or cool you down with a cold beverage. For more information, including how to volunteer or become an event vendor, contact The District/Downtown Redevelopment Authority at 270-782-0222, e-mail mainstreet@downtownbg.org, or visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecondSaturdaysBG.

Photo by Alix Mattingly

www.bgchamber.com

section title

government

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

government

City of Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson “Bowling Green is a ‘can-do’ community. Our publicprivate partnerships are focused on supporting and furthering the success of our businesses, our non-profits, our schools, our neighborhoods and our people. This is why our city — and South Central Kentucky — is a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

Warren County Judge Executive Michael Buchanon “South Central Kentucky isn’t just a brand. It’s not about a logo or a catchy slogan. It’s about 10 counties coming together to offer something bigger than what they could do individually. We recognize that economic growth in one county means economic growth in the region. What benefits Warren County benefits Allen County and the rest of the region. We’re proud to be a part of South Central Kentucky!”

www.bgchamber.com

government Our Elected Representatives

U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510..........202-224-2541 www.mcconnell.senate.gov Rand Paul 208 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510..........202-224-4343 www.paul.senate.gov

U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie 308 Cannon H.O.B. Washington, DC 20515..........202-225-3501 www.guthrie.house.gov

Governor

Jody Richards, District 20 Area: Warren 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 324D Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 699 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h020.htm

David Givens, District 9 Counties: Allen, Barren, Edmonson, Green, Metcalfe and Simpson 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 215 Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 624 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s009.htm

Jim DeCesare, District 21 County: Warren 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 432E Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 660 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h021.htm

Mike Wilson, District 32 Counties: Warren and Butler 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 203 Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 717 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s032.htm

State Representatives Martha Jane King, District 16 Counties: Logan and Todd 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 329J Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 618 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h016.htm

Steve Beshear 700 Capitol Ave., Suite 100 Frankfort, KY 40601...............502-564-2611 www.governor.ky.gov

C. B. Embry Jr., District 17 Counties: Butler, Grayson and Hardin 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 401 Frankfort, KY 40601 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h017.htm

State Senators

Michael Meredith, District 19 Counties: Edmonson, Hart and Larue 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 413G Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 719 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h019.htm

Joey Pendleton, District 3 Counties: Todd, Logan and Christian 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 255 Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 622 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s003.htm

Carroll Gibson, District 5 Counties: Hart, Breckinridge, Grayson, Hancock, Larue and Meade 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 242 Frankfort, KY 40601...............502-564-2450 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/s005.htm

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Wilson Stone, District 22 Counties: Simpson, Allen and Warren 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 329A Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 672 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h022.htm Johnny Bell, District 23 County: Barren 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 357C Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 688 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h023.htm Bart Rowland, District 53 Counties: Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe and Monroe 702 Capitol Ave., Annex Room 413A Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-8100 Ext. 613 www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h053.htm

section title Fiber Optics Photo by Jim Veazey

utilities

www.bgchamber.com

utilities

Power

their Throughpeople

Providing the Best Possible Professional Service

By David Ballard

outh Central Kentucky offers the full package, including utility providers employing the latest in technological, safety and environmentally friendly equipment and procedures. Residents and businesses are assured top-quality, reliable service so they can stay up and running.

Atmos Energy www.atmosenergy.com

Providing safe and reliable energy is the highest priority of Atmos Energy, one it takes very seriously in delivering quality service to its customers. But energy isn’t the only service Atmos provides. The company takes great pride in giving back to employees and the communities it serves. “We realize our customers and communities are what make Atmos Energy,” said Dan Price, sales manager for Atmos’ Kentucky/Mid-States Division. “We don’t just work in our communities;

Photo by Jim Veazey

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

utilities we live there, too, which is why our culture is based on taking care of our employees. We understand that if we take care of our employees, then they will take care of our customers.” To Atmos Energy, citizenship does not simply imply the corporation giving money and support. Across its enterprise, Atmos Energy’s employees give something of themselves every day to their causes and communities. Every year, the company’s employees in Bowling Green and surrounding communities partner with the United Way, Junior Achievement, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, local chambers of commerce, Western Kentucky University and other organizations. According to Price, it’s part of Atmos Energy’s culture to encourage employees not only to provide the best possible professional service to customers, but also to donate their time and talents to schools, churches, hospitals and local nonprofits to improve others’ lives and serve a higher purpose.

“Our accelerated tree trimming program is distinctive,” Heltsley said. “We have been using it since 2004, and since then, our tree related outages have dropped 41 percent, results that prove the program’s effectiveness.” BGMU uses “directional” and “natural” trimming, methods endorsed by the National Arborist Association, the National Arbor Day Foundation and the International Society of Arboriculture. In 2012, for the fifth time, the Arbor Day Foundation recognized BGMU’s tree-trimming program with its Tree Line USA utility award, in part for the local utility’s tree-friendly pruning methods. According to Heltsley, every year, BGMU requires its workers to take eight hours of training from a certified arborist on proper pruning techniques to ensure they are using uniform methods. BGMU is also committed to state-of-the-art technology. The utility’s Fiber Optics Division

BGMU’s Fiber Optics Division features three fiber optic loops to ensure constant and reliable Internet connection and utilizes flexible Cisco technology that allows businesses to alter their bandwidth needs in real time.

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities www.bgmu.com

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU) is known for providing safe, reliable electric service across its utility service areas. Danny Heltsley, right-of-way foreman for BGMU, says that among its industry-leading initiatives is its best practices tree-trimming program, focused on proactive pruning and maintenance to protect both the power lines and the health of the trees. Direct benefits from BGMU’s tree-trimming program include increased reliability of service, since keeping trees properly pruned and maintained means that falling branches are less likely to down power lines during storms, and a healthier and more abundant community forest.

www.bgchamber.com

utilities

Photo by Jim Veazey

features three fiber optic loops to ensure constant and reliable Internet connection and utilizes flexible Cisco technology that allows businesses to alter their bandwidth needs in real time. Reliable service starts with a solid fiber optic backbone and state-of-the-art equipment. The network is monitored 24/7. Customers have direct access to BGMU technical service through e-mail or by dialing the NOC (Network Operation Center) phone number; calls are forwarded to an on-call phone during non-business hours. Outage and trouble calls are handled quickly and efficiently by a knowledgeable staff of technicians. BGMU Fiber Services include large business and small business Internet connections, pointto-multi-point VLAN connections, business telephone services, dark fiber leasing, and a Tier II Data Center and co-location services.

Warren County Water District www.warrenwater.com

Serving more than 25,000 customers, Warren County Waster District provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and those services continue to improve. The district recently completed a multi-million-dollar, fiveyear capital improvement program to increase capacity and enhance reliability. Projects included the construction of a 2 million-gallon water tank, pump stations, pump station upgrades, water line replacements and transmission additions. Warren County Water District also employs leading-edge technology. Its mobile geographic information system is available on every field employeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laptop to provide up-to-date, accurate maps to increase operational efficiency and improve response times. Its Automated Vehicle Location System tracks all company vehicles, also improving response times. To maintain and

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

utilities control its processes, Warren Water utilizes a monitoring system that provides operating information from 140 sites around Warren County. Using a highly effective water accountability system and leak detection devices, Warren Water maintains significantly low water loss throughout the county. “Our company has always recognized the importance of efficient operations,” said Alan Vilines, Warren Water general manager. “The implementation of several new technologies in our water system continues that emphasis.” In addition to its commitment to high-quality water services, Warren Water strives to be a reliable resource in the community. Warren Water supports education by sponsoring a college scholarship, as well as poster and video PSA contests in Warren County Public Schools. As a result of these and other programs, the American Water Works Association presented Warren Water with a 2012 Public Information Award for superior public outreach and communications.

Warren Rural Electric Cooperative www.wrecc.com

In 2013 Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation will celebrate its 75th anniversary as a leader and innovator in regional power services. Much has happened during those 75 years to improve the quality of life for rural Kentucky. On March 3, 1939, electricity was brought to the first 325 homes. Today, the utility serves over 60,000 homes, businesses, and commercial and industrial consumers in all or parts of eight counties in South Central Kentucky. Not just a leader in the electricity industry, in the 1960s Warren RECC was instrumental in establishing rural water districts. Not only did this provide a safe source of water, but it also created an atmosphere for the construction of new homes and improvement of existing homes and raised the overall standard of living in rural communities. Warren RECC is also an innovator in customer service, with a variety of programs to make doing business with them easier. These include Online Billing, E-Billing, AutoPay, Telelink, Levelized Billing, a heat pump loan program and an electric hot water rebate program. The cooperative is also committed to giving back to the community — particularly youth. Warren RECC offers scholarship programs and sponsors high school juniors who participate in an annual Frankfort Youth Tour and Washington Youth Tour. Warren RECC is also a supporter of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s Work Ethics Seal Program in area high schools. For younger children, the cooperative offers electrical safety demonstrations that teach children the importance of being safe around electricity.

utilities that serve 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development. Economic development is a core role of TVA’s mission. Through its partnerships with the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, regional entities, local power companies and community economic development organizations, TVA helps foster capital investment and job growth in the area. Creating jobs, helping local communities and improving quality of life in the Valley is what TVA Economic Development is all about. Programs include financial assistance, technical resources, research, community preparedness, rural strategies, retail development, project location or expansion assistance, and community development. Energy efficiency and building sustainable communities are also program focus areas for TVA. Site Selection magazine has named TVA as one the top 10 utilities in economic development for the seventh straight year. TVAsites.com is one of the largest GIS-based searchable building and land databases in the world. For more information about TVA economic development programs in Kentucky, please visit TVAed.com or contact Roxann Fry at rfry@tva.com.

For a full list of regional utilities, please visit www.southcentralky.com.

Tennessee Valley Authority www.tvaed.com

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for business customers and distribution www.bgchamber.com

section title

business & industry

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

business & industry

Overview

anufacturers, distributors, R&D facilities and corporate headquarters call South Central Kentucky home because of the assets, amenities and benefits available here. A variety of sectors have been identified as targets for the region based on outside research and analysis, which highlight the key business sectors that already exist in the region as well as those that present high potential attraction opportunities.

Headquarters Operations South Central Kentucky is known as the home to the world’s only Corvette assembly plant, but it’s also home to many household names. Bowling Green has been home to Fruit of the Loom, a Berkshire Hathaway company, for more than 70 years, with its world headquarters located at One Fruit of the Loom Drive. The company recently expanded its world headquarters facility to relocate of all sales, marketing and management support operations for its subsidiaries of Russell Brands LLC and Vanity Fair Brands LP to Bowling Green, bringing an additional 600 jobs to the region. Houchens Industries, Inc., began as a Bowling Green food store in 1917 and has since grown to nearly 16,000 employee owners in almost every state in North America and in more than 30 countries. An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, Houchens is the largest 100 percent employee-owned company according to the ESOP Association and is one of the largest 100 percent privately held companies in North America according to Forbes magazine. Other headquarters operations in South Central Kentucky include • Camping World • Halton Group • New Mather Metals • Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems Inc.

Building on the Region’s Assets for Economic Growth

Hitcents.com and 10/20 Digital are locating their headquarters operations in the new Hitcents Park Plaza, a state-of-the-art complex in downtown Bowling Green. An independent broadband consulting firm, 10/20 Digital was formed by Connected Nation, a broadband planning services company for communities and states, in 2012. Hitcents.com began as a two-person Internet advertising venture and has since grown into an interactive and creative agency providing custom Web design, innovative software development, creative graphic and marketing solutions.

Advanced Manufacturing With existing businesses like Bowling Green Metalforming (MAGNA), Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, Logan Aluminum and Trace Die Cast, South Central Kentucky is an ideal region for advanced manufacturers because of a skilled workforce and access to training and education providers. As an example, Bowling Green Metalforming, part of Magna International, Inc., has undergone five expansions since the 900,000-square-foot plant opened production in the Kentucky Transpark in mid-2005. A vehicle frame manufacturer, the plant currently has 900 full- and part-time employees and customers including BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Automotive Parts & Suppliers Home to the only manufacturer of America’s sports car — the Chevrolet Corvette — Bowling Green, Warren County and the surrounding counties are a popular location for the automotive parts and suppliers sector. The strong assets of the region help position Kentucky among the nation’s top three states for automotive manufacturing. General Motors unveiled the new C7 Corvette at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2013.

By Chamber

Commerce Staff

Average wage rates are far lower than northern automotive locations and compare favorably with other Southern U.S. locations. The number of recent expansion and attraction projects in the region attest to the local quality of business for this sector. Some of the region’s projects (2010– 2012) include General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant, Sequa Automotive Group, Holley Performance Products and Akebono Brake.

Distribution and Logistics South Central Kentucky is within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population and is located centrally on Interstate 65 with immediate access to the major northern and southern manufacturing facilities. The region is within two and a half hours of international airports and distribution hubs, making it an ideal location for distribution and logistics businesses, including Dollar General Corp., the Fruit of the Loom Distribution Center, Shop NBC, Sun Products Corporation and the Tractor Supply Co. Distribution Center.

Fabricated Metals, Industrial Machinery, Plastics Companies such as Berry Plastics, Casco Products/Sequa Automotive Group, Halton Company, Trace Die Cast and Ventra Plastics are growing in South Central Kentucky because of the competitive assets in the fabricated metals, industrial machinery and plastics sectors. Training and education options are readily available, with

www.bgchamber.com

business & industry Bowling Green Technical College providing training in programs such as CNC machining, mechatronics and injection molding, and a machinist academy. Classes for full-time and part-time students — and individualized company training — are affordable, accessible and quality-driven.

Food Processing Food-related businesses Country Oven Bakery, Dart, Hill’s Pet Nutrition (part of ColgatePalmolive Company) J.M. Smucker Company, Sister Schubert’s, Southern Foods and T. Marzetti Company — and multiple others — are located in South Central Kentucky, and such businesses thrive in the region because of assets like market access to a significant portion of the United States, which enables freshly processed food products to be delivered in a timely fashion.

Motorsports

Niche and Emerging Industries

The General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant is an important attraction for motorsports. As with automotive suppliers and advanced manufacturers, motorsports sector leaders find existing companies like Holley Performance Products, Quick Fuel Technology and RC Components to be beneficial for their businesses. The Beech Bend Dragstrip — which attracts some 750,000 visitors each year — the National Corvette Museum and the planned NCM Motorsports Park on the museum’s property are also appealing assets. To be built on 184 acres adjacent to the museum, the Motorsports Park will have a 2.94-mile road course, an autocross/skid pad area, a paddock and a control tower/administration building.

Because of education and research capacity at Bowling Green Technical College and Western Kentucky University, there are several niche market opportunities within South Central Kentucky: cyber defense, cellulosic bio-fuel and medical devices markets. EWA Government Systems, Inc., one of the premier cyber security and cyber defense companies in the United States, has an operations office at the Central Region Innovation & Commercialization Center at the WKU Center for Research & Development. Along with EWA, the WKU Center for Research & Development houses WKU’s Applied Research Centers, the WKU Small Business Development Center and the WKU Small Business Accelerator. The facility provides state-ofthe-art research facilities in a 27-acre location with more than 275,000 square feet of space. The medical devices sector will also benefit from the large-scale hospital, The Medical Center, located in Bowling Green. Additionally, the healthcare infrastructure of Bowling Green is strongly supported by Western Kentucky University’s nursing program, which offers RN to NP degrees and is among the university’s largest majors. Commonwealth Health Corporation, parent company of The Medical Center, is constructing a 73,471-square-foot, three-story facility on the hospital’s campus at a cost of $18.4 million. In support of WKU, The Medical Center is constructing the new facility to house the university’s nursing and physical therapy programs and to provide educational space for the hospital. The facility will be named The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex.

Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) The SHOT business sector has access to a variety of research and training benefits in South Central Kentucky, such as the WKU Center for Research & Development, metallurgy courses at WKU, and other training opportunities at Bowling Green Technical College. SHOT industry experts and enthusiasts frequently use the Rockcastle Shooting Center, a world-class shooting facility near Mammoth Cave, for product testing, training and recreation.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

business & industry

Business, Catalyst for Growth

Magnet for

Celebrating New and Expanding Industry

n a national economy in which it’s much more common to hear of businesses faltering than succeeding, South Central Kentucky is blossoming. The region is not only welcoming new businesses, but also celebrating expansions by those already established here. Davert USA, Inc., a Canada-based company, chose Bowling Green as its first U.S. location and plans to create 20 new, full-time jobs and invest more than $2.3 million in the project. “The Commonwealth is honored to have Davert choose Bowling Green as the site for its first location in the United States,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is a testament to the quality of the workforce and strategic location Kentucky offers, and we’re thrilled to see 20 new jobs and a $2.3 million investment in the Commonwealth.” Davert, which provides solutions for metal fabrication, engineering, design and prototype needs, has been in business in Canada since 1996. The company plans to purchase equipment and lease a building in Bowling Green. “We are proud to locate Davert here in Bowling Green-Warren County,” said Bob Collier, president of Davert USA Inc. “South Central Kentucky is an ideal location for our new facility, and we’re excited to start operations here. We thank Gov. Beshear and all of the leaders who have supported this project, and we look forward to being a great corporate citizen in the region.” To encourage the investment and job creation in Bowling Green, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $300,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its

investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. “Our area is blessed with a productive workforce. So much so that we are even recognized internationally for the caliber of our people,” said Sen. Mike Wilson, of Bowling Green. “I welcome Davert to our community and look forward to a long and successful partnership.” “It really means a lot to our community to have Davert USA choose us for its first U.S. location,” said Rep. Jody Richards, of Bowling Green. “It’s a testament to our local workforce and the business-friendly atmosphere we have established. This announcement is also another sign that our economy is truly on the upswing.” Automotive manufacturer Holley Performance Products is expanding operations in Bowling Green, making a capital investment of more than $7 million. The company will add 136 new jobs in Bowling Green over the next several years to its current workforce of 250. Established in 1903, Holley is a leading manufacturer of fuel systems for racers and high-performance auto enthusiasts. The company moved its carburetor manufacturing facility to Bowling Green in 1953 and relocated its corporate office from Michigan to Bowling Green in 1992. Holley’s expansion will encompass a renovation of its Bowling Green facility; growth of its local distribution center; and additional product manufacturing, including a new Demon Carburetion line. New offerings will join an already diverse list of aftermarket performance products Holley designs, builds and sells, including fuel injection systems, nitrous oxide injection systems, intake manifolds, superchargers and more.

By David Ballard

The National Corvette Museum provided the Chamber with lead for the Davert project and was integral in connecting the community with the company. The NCM’s involvement is one more example of the positive business climate and stakeholder relationships that make the South Central Kentucky region a success.

Holley President and CEO Tom Tomlinson praised Bowling Green as a welcoming environment for business. “This announcement demonstrates Bowling Green is working hard to create an environment, supportive of local businesses and job growth, in Bowling Green. We are eager to begin expanding and upgrading our facilities here.” In November 2012, KIRIU USA Corporation celebrated the completion of its $10 million expansion project, which will add up to 15 new jobs and will have an additional economic impact of $1.75 million annually, increasing local tax revenue by more than $112,000 and household spending by $400,000. Headquartered in Bowling Green, KIRIU manufactures automotive brake discs and drums, and it is a subsidiary of KIRIU Corporation, the second-largest automotive brake rotor producer in Japan. KIRIU USA supplies approximately

Supplying the Automobile Industry with Aluminum Suspension Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC Bowling Green, Kentucky

(270) 842-6492

www.bgchamber.com

business & industry 3.6 million rotors to the major automakers, such as: Nissan, Subaru, General Motors and Honda. It currently delivers nearly 100 percent of Nissan and 90 percent of Subaru demand in the United States. “We are excited to celebrate the completion of the expansion here at our facility,” said Mark Kimura, president and CEO of KIRIU USA Corporation. “Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky have been great supporters of KIRIU, and we’re proud to continue to invest here by expanding our operations and creating more jobs.” The City of Bowling Green, the County of Warren, local legislators and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce assisted KIRIU in the approval of its economic development project, demonstrating the entities’ commitment to the company’s growth. KIRIU received a Business Expansion Award from the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce at the 2012 Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet. Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products LLC is expanding operations in Bowling Green, with plans to create 15 new, full-time jobs and invest $11 million in the construction of a new 39,000-squarefoot building and the purchase of new equipment. “Kobe Aluminum is a shining example of Kentucky’s thriving automotive industry,” said Gov. Beshear. “These 15 new jobs and an $11 million investment speak volumes about the confidence Kobe Aluminum has in Kentucky’s workforce and the success the company has enjoyed here in the Commonwealth.” Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products LLC, a joint venture of Kobe Steel Ltd., Mitsui & Co Ltd. and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has been a resident of South Central Kentucky since 2005. The plant currently has more than 200 full-time employees and has invested nearly $100 million in its Bowling Green

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

facility since opening its doors. Kobe has added more than 50 employees to its payroll since 2011. There are 11 Kobe Steel subsidiaries in the United States, but the Bowling Green location is the only U.S. facility to forge aluminum suspension products for the automotive industry. The expansion project will manufacture the cast aluminum bars for compressors for air conditioning on vehicles. To encourage the investment and job growth in Bowling Green, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $325,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. “It is with distinct pleasure that I welcome the expansion of the automotive footprint in our community,” said Sen. Mike Wilson, of Bowling Green. “Our people know manufacturing and job-creators know it.” “Our community has built a sterling reputation in the automotive industry, and companies like Kobe Aluminum are a key reason why,” said Rep. Jody Richards, of Bowling Green. “I want to thank the company for taking on this expansion, which to me underscores just how much it values our quality of life and second-to-none workforce. I also appreciate the assistance our local and state officials gave to help make this possible.” Kobe Aluminum received the John B. Holland Business of the Year Award from the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and was also recognized by the Chamber as Industry of the Year in 2008. The City of Bowling Green approved the changing of the company’s address from 525 Central Court to One Kobe Way.

business & industry RC Components announced an expansion in 2012 as well, with plans to create 16 new, full-time jobs and invest more than $836,000 in its Bowling Green location. “RC Components started small in the owner’s garage, but the company has seen tremendous growth with thousands of dealers in numerous countries,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’re thrilled to partner with RC Components and help the company add 16 jobs in Bowling Green.” RC Components began in 1989 in Bowling Green and has grown to more than 10,000 dealers in 36 nations. The company manufactures and sells motorcycle exhaust systems, wheels and parts. With 56 current employees in Bowling Green, RC Components plans to purchase new equipment with updated technology as part of the expansion. “We’re excited to begin our expansion and to make an additional investment in Bowling Green,”

said Rick Ball, president of RC Components. “We’re grateful that this community works hard to create an environment that is supportive of local businesses, and we thank Gov. Beshear and our local and state leaders for helping us make today’s announcement possible. We look forward to continuing to grow RC Components for many years.” “RC Components is a perfect example of what hard work and a commitment to excellence can accomplish, so I am certainly proud to see this hometown company take another step to invest further in our community,” said Rep. Jody Richards, of Bowling Green. “This is great news, especially for those families who will benefit from these new jobs, so I want to thank both the company for taking this step and our local and state officials for working together to help make this happen.” In April 2012, Taggart Solar, LLC, a pioneer in utility rate reduction software, announced

plans to locate a new manufacturing facility in a 10,000-square-foot building in the Edmonson County Industrial Park. The company will employ 30 individuals when the $440,000 project is complete. Taggart Solar manufactures and assembles solar panels for industrial and residential use. The company already has local ties, having manufactured the thousands of solar panels that were installed in

www.bgchamber.com

business & industry Scotty’s Industrial Park in Bowling Green. Taggart Solar’s 2-megawatt Edmonson County facility will assemble photovoltaic (sunlight into electricity) modules for distribution across the United States and Canada as well as internationally. Dagney Johnson, president of Taggart, credits the region’s active economic development team, including leaders of Edmonson County, local legislators and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, for putting Edmonson County’s best foot forward. “We’re extremely excited to announce our plans to locate in Edmonson County,” she said. “We’ve been very impressed with the community, the leadership of the elected officials, and the assistance that everyone has provided to make this project happen. I’m confident that South Central Kentucky is going to be a place of success for Taggart Solar.” When hiring is complete, Taggart Solar will make a significant economic impact — more than

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

$10 million over a three-year period according to a nationally recognized economic impact model. In 2012 Yahagi America Molding, Inc. (YAMI), a plastic injection molding facility based in Japan, announced an expansion at its Park City facility, also located in Edmonson County. The expansion project will include a capital investment of $1 million. The 33,600-sqare-foot Park City facility will be expanded an additional 16,000 square feet, and it’s expected that 10 positions will be added to the current staff of 40. “The biggest reason for our expansion is to provide YAMI with additional space to meet our needs,” said Lori Edmunds, YAMI’s human resource representative. “We have acquired additional business in the last six to eight months. Our expansion will enable us to have more space for our warehouse, which in turn will give YAMI the space

it needs to operate our current machinery more efficiently, while adding machines.” According to Edmunds, YAMI was drawn to Park City’s easy access to I-65 and its location close to several other leaders in the automotive industry. Now, the local response to the expansion has given YAMI yet another reason to find the area attractive. “YAMI is excited about its decision to expand,” she said. “The continuous support given to us by many of Edmonson County’s leaders has been overwhelming.” As the only YAMI facility in the United States, the expansion to the Park City plant will allow the company to acquire additional business, growing its client list of DMMI, part of the DENSO family, which supplies automotive HVAC systems to General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. General Motors and the Corvette are the cornerstones of the manufacturing industry in South Central Kentucky. In May 2011, GM, one of the world’s largest automakers, announced it would make a $131 million investment in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs. GM unveiled the new C7 Corvette at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2013. “This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. “Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world’s best super cars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage.” According to Reuss, the investment in Kentucky is part of GM’s commitment of $3.4 billion in the United States since mid-2009, to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers. The 2013 model year will be the last for the current generation, or “C6” Corvette. Corvette Assembly Plant Manager Dave Tatman said, “We are thrilled to have the privilege to build the next generation Corvette here in Bowling Green, where we’ve been building Corvettes for over 30 years. The investment announcement made by General Motors last year represents GM’s commitment to and working relationship with Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky.” Bowling Green is the exclusive manufacturer of all versions of the Chevrolet Corvette–Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1, as well as the new Corvette 427 Convertible. The Corvette 427 Convertible is a new model for 2013, commemorating Corvette’s 60th Anniversary (the first Corvettes were produced in June 1953). Nearly 500 production workers assemble these vehicles with many specialized operations, including unique handcrafted techniques. Bowling Green has been home to Corvette production since 1981. To learn more, visit www.gm.com.

Kentucky Transpark The Kentucky Transpark is one of the nation’s most outstanding business parks, located in the heart of South Central Kentucky on the north side of Bowling Green on U.S. 31-W and U.S. 68/80. With a campus-style setting on 900 acres zoned for light and heavy industrial business, the Kentucky Transpark’s assets include easy transportation access and on-site training centers, all available in this environmentally friendly location. Transportation • Less than five miles from Interstate 65 and one mile from the planned interstate connector road at U.S. 68 (bid in summer 2013) • On-site CSX rail mainline and industrial rail spur • River transportation within one hour • Regional airport within 20 miles • Less than 100 miles from the Louisville and Nashville International Airports Training • Bowling Green Technical College, part of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System • Green River Regional Educational Cooperative • Warren County Public Schools Area Technology Center

business & industry

Telecommunication & Life Safety Specialist Environmentally Friendly • Bike and walking trails • Abundant green space • Water features CSX Select Site – Lot 6 • One of five best manufacturing properties on CSX’s 23-state network • Only Select Site in Kentucky • Land Area: 100 acres • Zoning: Heavy Industrial District (HI) • Road Access: U.S. Highway 31W (1 mile) • Highway Access: Interstate 65 (5 miles) • Rail Provider: CSX Current Companies • American Howa Kentucky, Inc. • Bowling Green Metalforming • Cannon Automotive Solutions • Shiloh Industries, Inc.

944 Searcy Way Bowling Green, KY (270) 781-7076 (800) 844-1410 www.comstarsystems.com

Telecommunication • Access Control & Life Safety Specialist • Cable TV • Closed Circuit TV • Fire Alarm • Fire Extinguishers • Kitchen Hood Systems • Master Clocks • Computer Networks • Nurse Call • Public Address • Pro Sound • Telephone • Video • Data • Media Management

www.bgchamber.com

business & industry

Central Region ICC Inspiration Meets Industry

very advance in industry requires an innovator to bring to life an idea that creates more efficient production of goods and services; convenient, usable products; and most importantly, additional jobs. Entrepreneurs must have the financial and technical support to bring their vision to profitability in the marketplace. To spur innovation re-

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

By David Ballard

gionally, the Kentucky Legislature created the Central Region Innovation and Commercialization Center (CRICC) 10 years ago. This act partnered the CRICC with Western Kentucky University, with Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) serving as Contract Manager. The CRICC also gets support from the city of Bowling Green and Warren County.

This partnership is designed to create, grow, recruit and retain science, technology and scalable companies in the central region of the state. This support both helps grow startups to maturity and established businesses prosper, advancing the region as a whole. The partnership is focused on three major areas to drive local innovation: assisting clients, developing infrastructure and promoting an entrepreneurial culture. The CRICC works one-on-one with clients, evaluating their business models. Clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; key resource requirements are identified, and the CRICC provides assistance in helping obtain them, from navigating the process of acquiring government funding to developing a professional business package to appeal to investors. The technical and knowledge-based industry requires strong infrastructure support. The CRICC works with the WKU Center for Research and Development, sharing such resources as the Small Business Accelerator, to launch tech startups; the Student Business Accelerator, to encourage WKU students to explore their entrepreneurial ideas; and six applied research laboratories. Additionally, space is being built at the Center to accommodate tech startups needing work space and applied laboratory facilities to provide specialized

business & industry technical service support to local industry. Facilities include the NOVA Center for Non-Destructive Testing, which houses the largest scanning electron microscope available for public use in North America, and the Thermal Analysis Laboratory, which provides unique analytic services to many client companies. The Lost River Data Center, a joint venture with Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, was opened in 2012. A Food Science lab and a Water Quality lab will also be added to the Center later this year. The high-tech equipment available at the Center is immensely valuable to industry and government. The electron microscope has been utilized by GM to research engineering challenges, while the Center’s Mesonet meteorological network has been used by local utilities and state governments to monitor weather conditions, drought and more. In a December 2011 interview with The Lane Report, Dr. Gordon C. Baylis, WKU vice president for research, said, “It’s not just that it’s cutting edge, it’s that it really helps the industries around us. We’ve been very, very successful working with the state and local businesses in creating jobs.” The CRICC has also implemented programs designed to spread an entrepreneurial culture throughout the region. One of the latest initiatives is an annual idea contest called “Buck$ for Bright Ideas.” This contest seeks out individuals with ideas that can serve a commercial use. Local service providers offer their services as prizes, including patent research, company formation support, market research, CAD drafting, and design and prototyping, totaling about $30,000 in value. “The program is held yearly and has been highly successful, attracting over 100 entries each year,” said Douglas Rohrer, associate vice president, research and development, and executive director of the Central Region ICC. All these strategic moves are giving businesses and industry in South Central Kentucky the tools necessary to thrive in an increasingly competitive world marketplace.

www.bgchamber.com

business & industry

Business – Big small

Impact

WKU SBDC Is Committed to Entrepreneurs

By David Ballard

ocal entrepreneurs interested in getting help running or starting a small business are already off to a great start, simply by virtue of their location. The well-established infrastructure in South Central Kentucky gives small-business owners a unique opportunity to grow their business. “With WKU right here, small-business owners have a critical resource,” said Miller Slaughter, center director for the WKU Small Business Development Center. “Couple the WKU SBDC with the Center for Research and Development and the Innovation and Commercialization Center and you have a dynamic partnership.” The WKU SBDC is a tremendous resource to small businesses and entrepreneurs in South Central Kentucky. The WKU SBDC consultants provide expert one-on-one assistance in a variety of areas, including startup assistance, financial forecasting, business plan development, market research, business record keeping and basic website development. Best of all, these services are free.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

business & industry The WKU SBDC consultants provide expert one-on-one assistance in a variety of areas, including startup assistance, financial forecasting, business plan development, market research, business record keeping and basic website development. Slaughter stresses that investing in small businesses is as much a boon to the region as the entrepreneurs themselves. “Eighty percent of employment comes from small businesses. They are the engine that drives our economy. For this reason, it is important that small businesses receive the help and support needed to succeed.” More than just an economic theorist, Slaughter has practical experience as a small-business owner. This role has enabled him to identify with smallbusiness owners and the challenges they face finding the resources and answers they need to start and run a business. When he talks with small-business owners, he says, there are common themes. “Many need help learning just how to start a business in Kentucky. They need help with finding financing and developing a business plan. Others need help with growing their business,

developing a website, taking advantage of government contracting opportunities or getting access to market research to help improve their decision making.” According to Slaughter, when clients need any of these resources, they can find them at WKU SBDC. For those interested in starting a business who are unsure which niche to choose, Slaughter has simple advice:

“Focus on an area that you love and are good at, then think about how customers have problems or needs not being met by others. Then develop your business to address these problems and needs.” Whether you are a new or established business owner, you can contact the WKU Small Business Development Center to access its free services. To request an appointment, call 270-745-1924 or visit www.wkusbdc.com.

Innovation in New Locations Lost River Data Center in the WKU Center for Research & Development This data center is a Tier II, 1,700-square-foot co-location space that offers a secure site for servers and business-critical data. It includes Redundant UPS systems and redundant fiber connections, as well as 24/7 access with remotely monitored security cameras. Bowling Green Municipal Utilities offers 24/7 dispatch, support and network monitoring for business Internet, phone and VLAN services. Its redundant fiber links to two different long haul carriers, and its three fiber optic loops have numerous taps and more than 300 miles of local fiber.

Hitcents.com Park Plaza Downtown Bowliing Green continued its redevelopment and renaissance on June 22, 2012, as Alliance Corporation broke ground for the new Hitcents.com Park Plaza. The commercial development will wrap two sides of the parking garage on Eighth Avenue and College Street, right next door to Bowling Green Ballpark and just across the street from SKyPAC. The plaza will be home to Hitcents, Connected Nation and other business clients. Developers and tenants hope the downtown locale, with its shops, restaurants, attractions and activity, will appeal to young professionals who crave a busy urban vibe. As an additional part of this strategy, plans call for the ground floor of Hitcents.com Park Plaza to house restaurants, which will open onto a pedestrian plaza connected to the Ballpark.

www.bgchamber.com

section title

education

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

education

Independent Schools promote

Bowling Green A Local Foods Initiative

partnership between Bowling Green Independent Schools and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is helping provide healthier meals and snacks in the city’s schools. The school system launched the program in the summer of 2011 and works with local farms to buy produce that is served in the district’s cafeterias.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Healthy Eating

www.b-g.k12.ky.us

By Amanda Knoles

Kim Simpson, district food services coordinator, explains that through its participation in the program the district has qualified as a Kentucky Proud buyer. The Kentucky Restaurant Rewards Program allows the school district to get 10 to 20 percent cash back for local food products purchased. “Last year we purchased $40,000 in local produce,” Simpson said. “It helps the local farmers

and helps us continue our mission to provide healthier foods for the students.” Simpson said students from the district have also taken field trips to destinations like Jackson’s Orchard, where they learn how food is grown and the importance of eating healthy foods. Parker Bennett-Curry and Dishman-McGinnis Elementary Schools take part in the federally funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), which provides children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables and allows them to try things they might not have eaten before, such as pomegranate or kiwi. The fruits and vegetables are served in the classroom as a snack. In the 2012–2013 school year Bowling Green City Schools participated in the Community Eligibility Option for the first time. “The initiative provides free meal service for students in high poverty areas,” explained Leslie Peek, the district’s public relations coordinator. “Students at TC Cherry, Dishman McGinnis, Parker Bennett Curry and The Academy at 11th Street received breakfast and lunch at no charge.” The Community Eligibility Option is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed by President Obama in 2010. The district’s Summer Food Service program provides nutritious meals to children even when school is not in session. Anyone 18 or younger may receive a free breakfast or lunch at T.C. Cherry or Parker Bennett-Curry Elementary Schools on weekdays in June and July. Low-cost adult breakfasts and lunches are also available.

education

New Warren County

Schools Model

Energy Conservation Green Growth

By Amanda Knoles

ichardsville Elementary is one of three Kentucky schools honored as a Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2012. This program recognizes schools that feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces and exercise a comprehensive approach to creating green environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health and wellness, and offering environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement. Open since September 2010, Richardville Elementary is the nation’s first net-zero-energy public school. The school is LEED Gold certified and scored 100 on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR portfolio. Renewable energy is generated on site through solar panels and a geothermal system, and students learn about energy conservation and sustainability through a curriculum developed by the National Energy Education Department. Jody Richards Elementary, opened in August 2012, serves 750 students in the Ivan Downs area. Joanie Hendricks, public relations coordinator for Warren County Public Schools, says it has become a model for other schools on how energy can be saved even without solar panels. (Currently Richardsville is the only school that has solar panels, but Bristow and Jody Richards are net-zero ready, meaning the panels can be put in place once funding is available.) “The concrete walls used in the construction of Jody Richards provide triple the amount of insulation of standard walls while also providing the safety of withstanding hurricane-strength winds,” Hendricks explained. Other energy-saving features include motionand sunlight-sensing lights and classrooms constructed to maximize the sunlight through uniquely designed windows and ceilings. The unique energy-saving kitchen has no fryers, no oven and no stove. “We use a combination steam and convection oven that cooks healthier and saves energy,” Hendricks noted. While some school districts are hesitant to implement energy-saving features for fear of the cost, Hendricks says the Warren County District is trying to promote the message “you don’t have to spend more to build better.”

“You don’t have to spend more to build better.”

www.warrencountyschools.org

www.bgchamber.com

education Private School Options Bowling Green Christian Academy www.bgcawarriors.org Bowling Green Christian Academy is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Serving the community since 1994, the nondenominational Christian school welcomes students from preschool through grade 12. The high school serves students in grades nine through 12 with a combination of on-site instruction and the SevenStar Online Curriculum. An extended childcare program provides age-appropriate before- and after-school care for students in grades K through eight. ACAD A Camp, held each summer, offers a variety of educational and recreational activities, including library programs, swimming, concerts, field trips, crafts and service projects, for students in grades one through six.

Leader in me ™

The

A Highly Effective Effort

By Chamber

Foundation Christian Academy www.fcafalcons.com Serving the community since 1996, Foundation Christian Academy is located on a 39-acre campus on Three Springs Road in Bowling Green. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Christian School Association, the academy serves 150 students in grades K through eight. The academy prepares students for spiritual, intellectual and social growth in a Christian setting. Featuring a teacher-tostudent ratio of 1-to-9, the academy offers personalized instruction and a variety of clubs and activities, including boys’ and girls’ cross country athletic teams, student council, band, art, music, and choir. Before- and after-school care programs are also available. Holy Trinity Lutheran School www.htlsbg.com Holy Trinity Lutheran School, which serves students from three years of age through sixth grade, is a member of the Mid-South District of the LC-MS based in Memphis, Tenn. In January 2013, the school opened a two-yearold classroom. The school’s purpose is to provide a Christ-centered educational program where children can grow spiritually while they fully develop their God-given talents. Although Holy Trinity is a Lutheran school, the majority of students are not Lutheran but are from a variety of other Christian denominations within Bowling Green and Warren County. Holy Trinity students consistently score in the top third of the nation on standardized test scores. Saint Joseph Interparochial School www.stjosephschoolbg.org Saint Joseph Interparochial School is a Catholic grade school serving local Catholic parishes, Bowling Green and surrounding communities. The comprehensive curriculum includes strong academics, daily religion class, instruction in the arts, technology, Spanish and physical education. Founded in 1859, the school challenges students to embrace the Gospel message, achieve their academic best and make a positive difference in the world. Achievement scores are well above the national average, and the many extracurricular activities, including service projects for the community, offer students a chance to build leadership skills. St. Joseph is accredited by the Kentucky Non-Public School Commission and the National Council for Private School Accreditation.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

www.TheLeaderInMeSCK.com

he Bowling Green Independent Schools and Warren County Public Schools are consistently ranked amongst the best in the nation. The school districts have been delivering quality education to our youth for many years, and the community stands behind the efforts of each school district. This is why the Bowling Green Area Chamber Foundation and the school districts have partnered together to implement The Leader in Me™ with the intent to teach youth what is already being emphasized in the districts’ classrooms. The Leader in Me™ is an initiative that helps these students capitalize on the lessons they’re learning already. It recognizes that all children have the potential to lead, and by integrating Dr. Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into every school day, it allows all involved to “put first things first,” “be proactive,” and “think winwin.” From the superintendents to the bus drivers, all administrators and teachers — whatever their roles — are trained in the 7 Habits and incorporate the principles into their lives, modeling the habits for their students!

Commerce Staff

Teachers don’t set a time every day to teach the 7 Habits. Instead, they incorporate these concepts into their lesson plans and activities. School artwork, story time, social studies and much more are infused with the 7 Habits, creating the common language and the leadership lessons that students will carry forward. As students begin to use the 7 Habits at school, they also bring it back to their homes, engaging their parents, guardians and siblings. Then its impact carries over into the current workforce, benefiting the business community. These benefits continue to grow as students complete their educations and enter the workforce with skills such accountability, responsibility, creativity and effective communication. For these reasons and many more, the Chamber recognizes that The Leader in Me™ is a valuable tool for not just impacting our youth, but expanding that impact into the home, the business community, and the future workforce. This is why the Bowling Green Area Chamber Foundation is raising $3 million to help the schools implement The Leader in Me™. These funds will be used for staff training, materials and programming, but ultimately the dollars invested will benefit students and classrooms. As of August 2012, all city and county elementary schools are implementing The Leader in Me™ and are at various levels of training on their way to be self-sustaining Lighthouse Certified schools within three years. In summer 2012, pilot middle and high schools received vision training, With the impressive leadership within the two school districts and the collaboration among the Chamber, the schools, and the public and private sectors, we’re becoming the model for all other communities, and we’re proud to know that our community’s can-do attitude is supporting our goal.

Bowling Green-Warren County is on track to become the first in the nation to have implemented The Leader in Me™ in all schools, all grades, K-12.

education Gatton Academy Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science in Kentucky was named the nation’s top high school as ranked by Newsweek magazine.

new

what’s at Enhancing the College Experience

WKU Photo courtesy of WKU University Photography

www.wku.edu

By Stacey Biggs

estern Kentucky University is the Commonwealth’s thirdlargest public university, with more than 21,000 students and 3,000 employees. Over the last 15 years WKU President Gary A. Ransdell has led the institution through an extraordinary transformation that has resulted in record enrollment growth, more than $500 million in campus improvements, new academic programs that are driving the state and regional economy, and a focus on internationalizing the college experience. “Perhaps the most telling validation of the academic transformation at WKU is the number of students competing for and winning prestigious national and international scholarships,” said WKU President Gary A. Ransdell. “This year 27 WKU students won 28 major scholar awards, including Fulbrights, NSF fellowships, Truman and Goldwater awards, and more. WKU has become a destination point for Kentucky’s best and brightest students, and that’s good news for our community and our region.” WKU hosts a vibrant community with hundreds of international students from about 50 countries. Further, the university is expanding international reach as more students take advantage of study-abroad opportunities in nearly 50 countries.

www.bgchamber.com

education WKU has the state’s only independent Honors College, with nearly 1,200 students enrolled, and is home to the Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the nation’s top high school as ranked by Newsweek magazine. Established in 2007, the Gatton Academy is an atypical residential high school where 120 highly gifted Kentucky students earn 60 hours of college credit while simultaneously completing their high school diploma. In addition, the WKU Center for Gifted Studies has served the state’s academically gifted youth for more than 30 years. WKU is also the location of the headquarters for the World Council on Gifted Education. WKU’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting is consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally and has the nation’s No. 1 photojournalism program as determined by the Hearst Foundation in the 2012 competition. WKU has a rich history in forensics as well with a world-class speech and debate team that again finished among the top in the nation in 2012 competitions. WKU is expanding international reach as more students take advantage of study-abroad opportunities in nearly 50 countries. WKU has two unique partnerships that allow students and faculty to spend a full semester abroad either at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England, or circumnavigating the globe through Semester at Sea. WKU has two additional programs that focus on accelerated learning and study abroad opportunities in China, including a Confucius Institute in partnership with the Chinese Ministry of Education and a U.S. Department of Defense Chinese Language Flagship Program. The WKU Center for Research and Development (CRD) is home to the university’s major research laboratories, 19 technologybased businesses, the Central Region Innovation and Commercialization Center, and a Small Business Development Center. The CRD houses one of the nation’s only large-scale chamber electron microscopes, which is available for commercial use. WKU offers civil, electrical and mechanical engineering programs, and the Gordon Ford College of Business offers a professional MBA program and AACSB-accredited business and accounting programs. Elementary education is the largest major of choice by WKU students, followed by nursing and biology. In all, students can choose from 170 undergraduate degree programs and more than 50 graduate programs, including doctoral degrees in educational leadership, nurse practice and, opening in 2013, physical therapy. WKU also offers more than 50 completely online degree programs for students around the globe through Extended Learning and Outreach.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

education The university operates regional campuses in Glasgow, Owensboro, Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Ft. Knox. In addition, WKU has joint admissions programs with seven Kentucky community and technical colleges, offering early admission, advisement and a seamless transition for students earning two-year degrees from community and technical colleges in Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Owensboro, Hopkinsville, Henderson, Madisonville and Somerset. WKU is home to the Hilltoppers and their beloved mascot Big Red, who has been selected for the Capital One All-America Mascot Team eight of the last 10 years. WKU is a member of the Sunbelt Conference and has 19 Division-1 athletic teams. WKU student athletes earned an overall cumulative GPA of 3.04 in 2011–2012 and consistently attain an 85 percent graduation rate. Three former WKU athletes competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics, including Claire Donahue, representing the United States Swim Team. WKU recently completed its second major capital campaign, raising more than $200 million in private gifts from alumni and friends. There are more than 90,000 WKU alumni living across the globe.

WKU has the state’s only independent Honors College, with nearly 1,200 students enrolled, and is home to the Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the nation’s top high school as ranked by Newsweek magazine.

www.bgchamber.com

education

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical

College

Transforming Education and Training Across 10 Counties

ccess, placing learning first and foremost, and student success are hallmarks of premier American higher education institutions. Recognized as the nation’s fastest-growing two-year college and ranked first in Kentucky for community college degree completion, Bowling Green Technical College begins 2013 with a new name reflecting its comprehensive mission and honoring its 10-county service region. Now, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College will continue building on its rich heritage of providing education and training for nearly 75 years, and offering degrees, diplomas and certificates in more than 100 industry-driven, high-wage/high-demand specialties spanning: • Applied Technology • Allied Health • Nursing • Engineering Technology • Computerized Manufacturing and Machining • Business • Information Technology • Culinary Arts For those seeking a bachelor’s degree, students can earn either the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degrees and transfer as juniors to any of Kentucky’s public universities through statewide transfer agreements. The Joint Admissions Program with Western Kentucky University offers students the opportunity to complete their associate degree at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, while simultaneously taking advantage of WKU services such as housing, athletics, library and more. In 2013, students across South Central Kentucky have more opportunities than ever before for an affordable, high-quality college education. The president of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Dr. Nathan Hodges, led the college through its transformational

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

journey to become a comprehensive community and technical college, earning accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, and emerging as one of Kentucky’s Best Places to Work. “Our mission to improve the employability and quality of life of South Central Kentucky citizens is a source of pride,” states Hodges. “Hence, we consider the college’s tremendous growth a success, as well as a testament to the solid educational experience offered by our 400 world-class faculty, staff and administrators.” The 12,000 smiling faces in our classrooms and training centers each year represent the rich diversity found across one of Kentucky’s most economically thriving regions. Its 280,000+ residents value the convenience of driving less than 30 minutes to reach one of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College’s six campuses located in Bowling Green, Glasgow and Franklin. Ranked in the top 6 percent nationally for twoyear degree completion, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College takes education seriously. For many years the College has taken pride in its commitment to increasing student learning outcomes, and recently received national accolades for setting “High Expectations.” Our students often outperform those of similar institutions. Graduates have nearly flawless licensure pass rates on state and national exams, and freshmen persist at rates higher than those found at 80 percent of the nation’s two-year colleges. The College is also committed to strengthening our business partners and training a skilled workforce and regularly leads the state’s 16 community colleges in corporate training. Creating workforce solutions that improve industry productivity, safety and organizational health is just one focus … creating new jobs is another. Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College devotes training

resources rarely found in other regions. Investing in industry development is critical to our economy, so the College has created the state’s only Interactive Digital Center dedicated to 3D, virtual reality training, saving companies countless dollars in expensive training equipment. In Spring 2013, the College is also unveiling one of only a few specialized FANUC certified robotics training centers in the nation. For our teenage friends, the newly implemented dual-credit partnership between the College and area K-12 schools is expanding low-cost college and career readiness opportunities for high school students. Enrollment in college courses is now possible in the student’s high school, area technology center or on one of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College’s six campuses, and credit is applied to both high school and college completion. Getting a jump-start on college prior to high school graduation saves money and reduces time required for college completion. In addition to preparing students to be leaders in industry, it is also important for Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College to be a role model for effective organizational operations. Investing in employees and building positive work environments has led the institution to be recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky.” Collectively, the college’s commitment to student, organizational and community success helps make South Central Kentucky a great place to live, work and raise a family. From the time you visit our campuses to the time you cross the graduation stage, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is committed to your success. We invite you to experience why higher education begins here! For more information, please contact Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College at 270-901-1000.

section title

real estate 48

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

real estate

Residential

Real Estate

Steady in South Central Kentucky

By Amanda Knoles

n contrast to many areas of the country, where home prices have ballooned and then plummeted, prices in the Bowling Green area have remained fairly stable over the last few years. “Kentucky has always been a more affordable state for purchasing a home,” explained Meg Manning, executive director of the Realtor Association of Southern Kentucky. The overall cost of living in Bowling Green is lower than the nationwide city average, and potential buyers have a wide range of prices and home styles to choose from. “It is more of a buyer’s market right now,” Manning noted.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Along with a variety of existing homes, Bowling Green offers newer residential developments like Ivan Downs. Located in the new Jody Richards school district, it offers rural living with city conveniences and easy access to major highways. Cumberland Ridge offers custom home sites in a scenic planned community with walking trails along Drake’s Creek. Home prices for single-family homes in Bowling Green range from $50,000 to $2.9 million. According to Manning the majority of homes in the Bowling Green/Warren County are in the $100,000 to $250,000 range, making

them more affordably priced for families and new residents relocating to the area. The median price for homes in Bowling Green is $145,000, and the average list price is $201,000. In the first half of 2012, homes stayed on the market an average of 154 days. In response to the growing demand for apartments, developers have increased construction of multi-unit housing. Retirees who have decided to scale down to a smaller space, college students and relocating young professionals are among those driving up the demand. Apartment rents range from $500 to $1,500 a month.

real estate

The overall cost of living in Bowling Green is lower than the nationwide city average, and potential buyers have a wide range of prices and home styles to choose from.

www.bgchamber.com

real estate

Commercial

Real

An Attractive Choice for Business

orbes magazine ranked Bowling Green No. 5 on its list of “Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers” in 2011. Among metro areas with populations under 200,000, Bowling Green was ranked third in the nation by Site Selection magazine for its 12 expansion and locations projects in 2010, and in 2009, CNNMoney ranked it 12th-best small city to launch a small business. Generous business incentives, an ideal location, low cost of living and a highly trained workforce make it an attractive choice for relocating businesses. “Bowling Green is a regional hub for South Central Kentucky. It has weathered the ups and downs of the economy better than many other areas of the country because we were not overbuilt,” said Alex Nottmeier, CCIM, SIOR, of Neal Turner Realty. “We have seen stabilization of vacancies and rental rates, and commercial real estate values are remaining steady.” An increased demand for office space over the last year has helped absorb many of the vacancies in that market, according to Nottmeier. The area has also seen a building boom taking place with apartments, as builders add new units to meet the increasing demand.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Estate By Amanda Knoles

In addition to business parks like the Kentucky Transpark, zoned for business and industrial use, Bowling Green offers affordably priced redevelopment properties, including former retail and restaurant spaces. Russellville Road, Louisville Road and Scottsville Road are high-traffic areas featuring retail, restaurants and service businesses. “Infrastructure improvements, including the extension of Natcher Parkway east of I-65 and the widening of Nashville Road south of the Natcher Parkway, will help generate additional commercial real estate activity,” Nottmeier added. Downtown Bowling Green is a prime area for future growth. The opening of SKyPAC is generating more interest in the area from retailers and restaurants. Hitcents will be the first business to occupy the commercial wrap surrounding the new parking structure at College Street and Eighth Avenue. The firm will occupy half the fourth floor with its 13,000-square-foot headquarters. Founders Ed, Chris and Clinton Mills are sub-developers of the downtown structure and are working closely with the city, county and Warren County Downtown Economic Development Authority to develop the commercial wrap as part of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.

section title

healthcare

www.bgchamber.com

healthcare

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

healthcare

The Medical Center

Dedicated to Health and Healing

art of Commonwealth Health Corporation, The Medical Center is Bowling Green’s fullservice hospital, dedicated to being a complete healthcare provider. The Medical Center offers a full spectrum of medical services to South Central Kentucky and is proud to sustain the high quality of care by continually investing in human resources, technology, facilities and new services. With the region’s only comprehensive heart program, The Medical Center has maintained the Society of Chest Pain Center’s designation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention). The Medical Center provides the area’s only 24-hour emergency intervention for balloon angioplasty, cardiac stenting and open-heart surgery. Leading the area in stroke care, The Medical Center also maintains The Joint Commission’s certification as a Primary Stroke Center. The Medical Center Neuroscience Services is available

www.TheMedicalCenter.org

By David Ballard

for patients with disorders related to the brain and nervous system. A multidisciplinary team including board certified neurosurgeons, neurologists, vascular surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, psychiatrists and psychologists provide quality, evidence-based care. The Medical Center is the sole provider of obstetrical and neonatology services in Warren County. For the unforeseen problems that might arise, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides 24/7 care for The Medical Center’s smallest patients. The Medical Center is dedicated to wellness and prevention. The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center serves the community as a health resource center, providing educational classes, health screenings, exercise classes, the Community Diabetes Program, medical nutritional counseling and more. In June 2012 The Medical Center began construction on The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex, a facility that will address the national

nursing shortage by providing much-needed space for WKU to double the number of students who can enroll in the university’s nursing program. The facility will also provide educational space for the university’s physical therapy doctorate program. As the healthcare leader in the region, The Medical Center is continually expanding services and technology. To support this unique role, in 2012 The Medical Center welcomed new physicians in specialties such as child psychiatry, vascular surgery, otolaryngology, obstetrics/gynecology and bariatric surgery. Committed to meeting the needs of the growing and diverse population, The Medical Center also provides a comprehensive cancer program (onsite radiation treatment center, chemotherapy and surgical services), a surgical weight loss program, orthopaedic surgery, da Vinci® robotic surgery, behavioral health services, diagnostic imaging, and a host of other services.

www.bgchamber.com

healthcare

Graves-Gilbert Celebrating 75 Years

Clinic

he physicians of the Graves-Gilbert Clinic have enjoyed a long partnership in the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and are proud of the role the clinic has played in bringing quality medicine to the area. With over 400 employees Graves-Gilbert has grown to become one of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest locally owned businesses. The clinic currently has 70 physicians practicing in over 20 specialties, and it is honored that approximately a quarter of a million patients trust their care to Graves-Gilbert Clinic each year. In early 1937, midway through the Great Depression, Dr. G. Graves and Dr. J. Gilbert shook hands and started the Graves-Gilbert Clinic. In 1939 construction began on the building at 1109 State Street, a site that was to be the Graves-Gilbert Clinic home for the next 50 years. By

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

By Craig Heckman

and

For 75 years the doctors and staff of the Graves-Gilbert Clinic have cared for and cared about the people of our region. Many generations of families have trusted their care to the distinguished physicians and staff at Graves-Gilbert Clinic. www.gravesgilbert.com

Chris Thorn, Graves-Gilbert Clinic

the 1980s it was clear that a larger building would be needed, so in 1989 Graves-Gilbert Clinic built its current building on its healthcare campus at the corner of Park Street and Second Avenue. Whatever your healthcare needs throughout the stages of your life, Graves-Gilbert Clinic is there to serve you. Pediatric medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopaedics and sports medicine have all added new physicians to meet your everyday needs. If you should need specialty care there is a wide range of distinguished specialists conveniently located together to take care of you. Graves-Gilbert Clinic â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Celebrating your Lifetime of Care because we Care.

healthcare

TriStar

Greenview Growing to Serve

riStar Greenview Regional Hospital is committed to providing superior care, with a touch of compassion. To honor that commitment, the hospital is in the midst of a $10 million project to help make its operations run more efficiently while personalizing care to its growing number of patients. “We are seeing more patients than ever before,” said Director of Surgery Andra Franklin, R.N. “Our staff has worked extremely hard to provide a high level of care, and we are excited about the prospects of our hospital and our growing community.” According to CEO Mark Marsh, the hospital has already begun efforts to accommodate its growing numbers. “We expanded parking in the south lot

www.tristargreenviewregional.com

By Alan Palmer

on the hospital campus, and the entire OR project should be complete within 18 months.” As part of the first phase of the project, Same Day Surgery, Preadmission and the Pain Clinic were moved to the third floor. The former Same Day Surgery patient rooms will become six new full-size operation suites. The operating rooms will have new equipment and devices rivaling those in other major metropolitan facilities. “These suites are larger,” said Franklin, “and we’ll be able to provide more wide-open space for our patients to receive, and our doctors to provide, care.” Once building phases II through IV are complete, patients will see the following outcomes: • Renovation of the four existing operating rooms.

• Conversion of four operating room suites into a new 15-bay post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). • Update of the current PACU into a new lounge with locker rooms. Additional initiatives are moving through the project pipeline, says Marsh. “We’re in the process of modernizing our emergency room as well, and are spending roughly $1 million to execute this plan. Once that project is complete in 2013, TriStar Greenview will increase its number of ER beds from 12 to 20, a healthy 60 percent increase.” “The number of people going to the ER has doubled in the past few years from 17,000 to 34,000,” he continued. “It is our continuing goal to get patients in to see a physician or nurse practitioner in 30 minutes or less. We’ve been able to nail that 90 percent of the time.” Many local architects, builders and designers have been instrumental in the hospital’s expansion project, says Marsh. “We want to support the people and the local economy that have so vitally contributed to our success,” he said. “More than anything, we want people to feel like they have a viable, efficient healthcare facility a short drive away.” TriStar Greenview is also working with the Greenview Medical Group (GMG) to bring in additional primary care physicians and specialists to better serve the needs of South Central Kentucky.

www.bgchamber.com

healthcare

Working Well Programs for a Healthier Workplace

By David Ballard

usinesses across the country are faced with rising costs for providing health benefits and missed production time due to illness and injury. In response, many businesses are exploring wellness programs designed to help employees make lifestyle and behavior changes, including choosing healthier foods and finding simple ways to incorporate physical activity into the workday. Dennis Chaney, the public health director at Barren River District Health Department, says that not all wellness programs are created equal, and that there are guiding principles businesses should use when determining which one is right for their employees. “Wellness programs which focus on the whole person are more helpful for long-term sustained fitness than just focusing on aerobic or strength building exercises,” he said. “A successful wellness program should offer opportunities to address social, spiritual and mental health improvement, as well as our body’s overall physical health.” The cost of establishing a custom workplace wellness program need not be prohibitive. The Barren River District Health Department can assist businesses to improve employee health using affordable services and effective strategies. The department’s worksite wellness team can create a program that is specific to any business’ needs and budget, with services that include presentations, classes, health screenings and immunizations. Chaney says that programs are highly customizable. Some are specially designed to scale depending on age, fitness level and gender. According to Chaney, the department works to provide support and personal accountability structures, since those have proven to be most effective. Those offering a buddy system or team approach have also proven to be successful. Regional private companies also provide health and fitness assessments and programs. The Medical Center’s Health & Wellness Center provides health education programs, a variety of free and low-cost screenings, nutritional therapy, support groups, low-impact exercise classes, and more. ClubMD offers health assessments, wellness coaching, predictive and preventive care, and weight management. Total Fitness Connection operates four local fitness centers and has been offering their Workforce Strength Builder® corporate wellness program for over 10 years. One Stop Wellness can contract worksite wellness programs at any level. Chaney says that the overall net benefit of adding a wellness program for employees is measurable, often profoundly so.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

“There are definite benefits to participating in a wellness program. Some individuals report weight loss, others report improved energy levels, and still others, increased flexibility. Another important benefit of eating healthier and increasing physical activity is improved sleep patterns at night, which contribute to overall health as well.” Employers also reap numerous benefits — and not just cost savings. “A healthier, happier staff and improved work culture are some immediate outcomes,” said Chaney. “In many instances data indicates decreased use of sick time and improved staff efficiencies.” Whether an employer has a worksite wellness program or not, Chaney urges: “Get involved, regardless of your current fitness level. If your employer does not have a worksite wellness program, approach them about starting one. Bowling Green and Warren County are blessed with great park systems and many safe venues for residents to engage in physical activity.”

“A healthier, happier staff and improved work culture are some immediate outcomes.”

Specialized

healthcare

Healthcare

Options for Finely Focused Care

outh Central Kentucky is home to specialty care providers ranging from urgent care and rehabilitation centers to home health services and hospice care. Newcomers will find hearing and vision specialists, dermatologists, pediatrists, and many other providers nearby and ready to help. Western Kentucky Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates (WKONA) features totally dedicated and highly experienced physicians and specialists, with the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology and patient care, offering total joint replacement, spine surgery, hand surgery and sports medicine. Administrator Jackie Walker said, “Western Kentucky Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates has been providing the best in orthopaedic and neurosurgical care for South Central Kentucky for over 30 years.” Owned by The Medical Center and the only freestanding imaging center in the South Central Kentucky region, Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging offers a relaxed, personable environment for MRI, ultrasound, mammography, fluoroscopy, CT scan, X-ray and a variety of other state-of-theart imaging services. They have three doctors on staff and participate with more than two dozen popular insurance plans. Bowling Green is also home to one of Kentucky’s leading psychiatric hospitals for the treatment of young people. Rivendell Behavioral Health Services, a 125-bed, JCAHO-accredited hospital, located on a 49-acre campus, provides progressive psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents experiencing symptoms of mental health problems. Patients requiring specialized care for extended periods have local options as well. Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital is dedicated to the treatment of critically ill patients, offering a variety of nursing, respiratory therapy and rehabilitation services. Likewise, Rosewood Health Care Center provides stroke recovery, respite and hospice care as well as other traditional types of longterm care. They offer cardiac, pulmonary, wound care and Alzheimer’s specialty programs as well as physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation therapies. Located at the Heartland Plaza, CORPCARE has provided healthcare services for military veterans for over 15 years. Part of the U.S. Department

By David Ballard

of Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, CORPCARE offers primary care, laboratory, mental health and radiology services. The Kelly Autism Program (KAP), located at Western Kentucky University, provides an educational, social and supportive environment for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities from the age of 7 through adulthood

so they can achieve their potential as independent, productive and active community citizens. KAP offers programming for elementary, middle school, high school and post-secondary students, including higher education, vocational training and job support. Specializing in compassionate and dignified care for over 30 years, Hospice of Southern

www.bgchamber.com

healthcare

WHERE ATHLETES GO TO GET BACK INTO THE GAME: WKONA provides the most comprehensive and experienced total sports medicine care in South Central Kentucky and are the official team physicians for WKUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports teams and the Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball team, as well as providing Certified Athletic Trainers to local schools.

Kentucky offers services that help to meet the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Patients who wish to spend their final days at home receive in-home service from professional medical practitioners and support staff based on an individual care plan developed by the patient, primary caregiver, attending physician and the hospice team. Opened in 2008, Bowling Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only Hospice House offers a scenic, visitor-friendly environment for inpatient or residential care, as well as short-term respite care to relieve regular caregivers. Hospice of Southern Kentucky serves a nine-county area. In 2011, Hosparus Barren River cared for nearly 200 patients and their families in their own homes, long-term care facilities and area hospitals. Its team of healthcare professionals and volunteers provide pain and symptom control and medication management; personal care such as bathing, skin care and light housekeeping; counseling and spiritual care; and bereavement services. For 35 years, Hosparus, a fully accredited, nonprofit hospice organization, has provided care for people facing life-limiting illnesses in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. To learn more call 270-782-7258 or visit www.hosparus.org.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

The Center

healthcare

for Courageous Kids

A Prescription for Fun

he Center for Courageous Kids (CCK) is a magical place. Serving children with serious medical conditions, it was founded by the late Elizabeth Turner Campbell. Since opening in February 2008, CCK has already served more than 11,000 brave youngsters and their families — free of charge. Operating solely on donations, CCK receives support from individuals, corporations, foundations and businesses with a heart for the medically fragile children it serves. CCK’s tagline — “We Prescribe Fun!” — describes exactly what they do: Children participate in everything from horseback riding to swimming to fishing to performing on stage. “At CCK, a child’s illness is not in the spotlight — they are,” says Director of Communications Stormi Murtie. Campers begin their day with “early risers,” which might include a trip to the horse barn to groom the horses or an early morning dog walk with the camp’s labrador retriever. During breakfast, campers cheer, sing, dance and enjoy the

www.courageouskids.org

By David Ballard

ever-popular morning aerobics. Afterward, they participate in various programs with their counselors and lodge mates under the watchful eye of doctors and nurses who monitor blood sugar, heart rate, air flow and other vital signs. Equipped with an onsite medical center and a helipad, the camp has served children with diabetes, cancer, hemophilia, kidney disease, heart disease and over 100 rare and unique diagnoses. CCK’s staff is also trained to administer chemo, dialysis and a plethora of medications. And while watchful, personalized medical care is the staff’s hallmark, they’re always willing to jump right into the action with campers, singing songs around the campfire, participating in messy games, swimming, rock climbing, bowling, and making new friends.

The camp offers two distinct regular programs: a nine-week illness-specific summer camp that hosts up to 128 children and 22 family retreat weekends during the school year when the entire family attends with the ill child. This year the camp added three “wounded warriors” opportunities specifically for military personnel. Murtie says that, for her, the camp is a passion. “It seems such a simple thing, to place a child on a horse, or cradle a child in the pool who has not felt buoyancy before, but these little moments lift their spirits as well as their bodies and are monumental in the life of a child. Those of us blessed enough to be a part of those fleeting moments appreciate it for what it is … pure magic.”

“It seems such a simple thing, to place a child on a horse, or cradle a child in the pool who has not felt buoyancy before, but these little moments lift their spirits as well as their bodies and are monumental in the life of a child.”

www.bgchamber.com

healthcare

Retiring in

South Central Kentucky Action and Affordability in Bowling Green

By Laura Wilcoxen

etirement isn’t about settling into rockers anymore. Today’s retirees may be giving up the day-to-day work grind, but they don’t choose to sit idle. Studies have shown that seniors today are looking for communities that can offer them plenty of culture, recreation, intellectual stimulation and family-friendly activities for the grandkids to enjoy. But savvy seniors are looking to strike a balance between action and affordability — and Bowling Green offers just that. With a cost of living that’s 8.2 percent lower than the national average, the city has been named a “Top 10 Value Town for Retirees” by Forbes, was listed among the top 10 “Best Places to Retire” by Great Places, and was included on TopRetirement.com’s 2011 list of the “Best Places to Retire,” where it was noted that Bowling Green is “just big enough to offer the excitements of a small city [and] small and Midwestern enough to have lower than average costs of living.”

Retirement Centers in Bowling Green Bowling Green Retirement Village 270-842-5433 www.bgrv.com

Bowling Green Towers 270-842-4215 www.bowlinggreentowers.com

Chandler Park Assisted Living 270-842-2626 www.chandlerparkassistedliving.com

Massey Springs Senior Living 270-842-0004 www.masseyspringsseniorliving.com

Morningside Assisted Living 270-746-9600 www.morningsideassistedliving.com

Village Manor/ Christian Health Center 270-796-6643 www.christiancarecommunities.org

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren often visit family for a relaxing game of checkers, a stroll through the courtyard or a swim in the indoor heated pool. Bowling Green Retirement Village always appreciates these special family visits.

Or maybe you want to start a new business when you retire? In 2012 SmartMoney.com cited Bowling Green as a great place for entrepreneurs to retire, noting “Bowling Green with its 8.6% unemployment rate is a bright spot — and a solid place to start a business. Rents and labor costs are low while the growing population and steady stream of college students provides a strong consumer base.” So South Central Kentucky is affordable; but what about the action? Bowling Green has plenty to offer: • WKU, which brings a college-town ambience as well as a number of cultural and sports opportunities to the region. Additionally, WKU waives all tuition charges for any Kentucky resident 65 years or older who enroll in classes for credit or audit. • An amazing cultural scene, including theatre, symphony, an array of festivals and events, and the newly opened SKyPAC, bringing everything from comedians to Broadway shows to town. • Abundant recreational activities, including several parks, seven golf courses, professional baseball and more. • Family-friendly fun and educational attractions like Beech Bend Park, Lost River Cave and Valley,

the Historic Railpark and Museum, and more. Additionally, Bowling Green has been lauded as a “Distinctive Destination” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for actively maintaining and celebrating its historic sites. • A revamped and growing downtown and great shopping and dining. TopRetirement. com says Bowling Green has “one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per capita of any city in America.” Making a transition from one’s personal home has always been a giant step. Today, millions of Americans are now experiencing the joys of retirement communities that offer fewer daily responsibilities and greater wellness activities. Management of improved levels of care now make it possible for senior adults to remain independent and active. As more and more retirees choose South Central Kentucky, they can be assured that area facilities are in place to meet their needs. TopRetirement. com says that the community is “developing rapidly with upscale retirement communities aimed at active adults.”

section title

worship

www.bgchamber.com

worship

Community A of Faith and

A Welcome to Worship

Diversity By Jay Nehrkorn

hether you’re a tourist visiting the region, a student who came to the area to get a degree or a new resident in the community, South Central Kentucky offers a broad spectrum of churches and places of worship where you can actively practice the faith of your choice. Many different faiths are represented within the Bowling Green area’s religious community, and the region offers a variety of inviting places of worship where people of nearly any religious affiliation or spiritual belief will feel welcome. Most prevalent among the houses of worship in the area are those tied to the Christian faith, with a great many denominations represented. The

Association of Religious Data Archives reported that in 2010 more than 88 percent of those in the Bowling Green MSA who adhere to some form of religious practice were associated with one of the many Protestant Christian groups in the area, while another 6.8 percent of worshippers were of the Catholic faith. Denominations such as Baptist, Methodist, Adventist, Presbyterian, Church of Christ and Church of God have many well-established churches in the area, and there are a number of congregations representing Episcopalian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Apostolic, Assembly of God and non-denominational Christian beliefs as well. Worshippers who follow the teachings of the Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witness and Christian Science will also find like-minded believers in the Bowling Green area. People of the Jewish faith can take part in an active congregation that follows the practices of Reform Judaism. Followers of Islam also make

up a portion of the local religious community, and there are two Islamic centers in Bowling Green, including the new Bosnian Islamic Center, dedicated in May 2012 when the North American Bosniak Convention was held at the Sloan Convention Center. Students of the Jewish or Muslim faith who move to Bowling Green to earn a degree at WKU can also find fellowship with other believers on campus through either the Jewish Student Organization or the Muslim Student Association at the university. As the Bowling Green business community and Western Kentucky University have continued to increase their international reach, the region has also experienced an increase in the number of residents and students practicing non-Western religious beliefs as well. May 2010 saw the consecration of Buddhist temples representing both the Burmese and Cambodian Buddhist traditions.

The region offers a variety of inviting places of worship where people of nearly any religious affiliation or spiritual belief will feel welcome. 64

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

worship Area Chamber-Partner Congregations Bowling Green Christian Church

Grace & Peace Presbyterian

1912 Smallhouse Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-842-6231 www.bowlinggreenchristian.org

923 College Street, Suite 200 Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-799-0176 www.gracepeacebg.com

Broadway United Methodist Church

Hillvue Heights Church

1323 Melrose Street Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-843-3942 www.broadwayunited.org

3219 Nashville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-842-0012 www.hillvue.com

Christ Episcopal Church

Holy Spirit Catholic Church

1215 State Street Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-843-6563 www.cecbg.com

4754 Smallhouse Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-842-7777 www.holyspiritcatholic.org

Cornerstone Church

Living Hope Baptist Church

940 Bryant Way Bowling Green, KY 42103 270-904-4454 www.cornerstonenashville.org/bowlinggreen-ky

1805 Westen Avenue Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-843-9462 www.livinghopewired.com

NewLife Church Crossland Community Church 600 U.S. 31-W Bypass, Suite 180 Bowling Green, KY 42103 270-842-4428 www.crossland.tv

1423 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-842-0223 www.bgfafamily.com

Presbyterian Church Eastwood Baptist Church 500 Eastwood Avenue Bowling Green, KY 42103 270-842-7867 www.eastwoodbc.org

First Baptist Church 621 E. 12th Avenue Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-842-0331 www.firstbaptistbg.org

1003 State Street Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-843-4707 www.bgpres.org The churches listed are partners of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce as of September 2012. Information about other worship facilities, including reaching various religions and creeds, is available at www.bgky.org.

www.bgchamber.com

section title

entertainment & culture

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

entertainment & culture

SKyPAC

Expanding Artistic Horizons in Bowling Green

he Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) is the largest and perhaps most unique performance hall in South Central Kentucky. Located at the northeast corner of historic downtown Bowling Green, the 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was created to present high-quality performing and visual arts programs and to serve as a venue for community events. Presenting touring Broadway productions, local and internationally renowned music acts, comedy shows, and entertainment for children, it is also the new home of Orchestra Kentucky. Since its sold-out grand opening in March 2012 the buzz about the new center has been extremely enthusiastic. “From the looks of admiration we’ve seen on patrons’ faces when they first view the architectural grandeur of the space, to the impressive ticket sales we have seen in the first few months, it is clear the community is very excited about what SKyPAC has to offer,” noted Executive Director Tom Tomlinson. “Our Broadway performances for the first season completely sold out, and over 80 percent of those subscribers renewed their tickets for the series next year. Once new subscription sales begin, we will likely sell more Broadway subscriptions than we did last season.” The Performance Hall seats 1,800 and features an expansive stage with top-quality theatrical and sound equipment to accommodate a variety of productions, from touring Broadway shows to music concerts, choral competitions, movies, lectures, comedians and corporate gatherings. The flexible Studio Theater seats 200 and provides an ideal setting for jazz bands, late evening cabaret, smaller theatrical productions and performances by school groups and others seeking a more intimate environment. An outdoor amphitheater, which opened in fall 2012, provides additional space

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

www.theskypac.com

By Amanda Knoles

for local theater groups and school organizations to perform and offers the community a relaxing setting to enjoy outdoor movies. Emerging local and national visual artists have a showcase for their work at the impressive SKyPAC Galleries as well. Reaching beyond its own walls, SKyPAC Foundation’s Community Outreach Program has made a strong commitment to arts education. “Educational programming is a cornerstone of our mission,” Tomlinson explained. “We believe that the arts can change people’s lives, especially when they become involved at an early age. More than 21,000 students already have been served through our many programs. In addition to transporting students to the center for special matinees, we have sent performers to classrooms and have taught teachers how to integrate the arts into subject areas like math that are not typically regarded as arts-related.” Several facilities at SKyPAC may be leased for events, including conferences, fundraisers, weddings and community gatherings. The elegant lobby is perfect for a reception with its floor-to-ceiling windows and inviting seating areas. Rehearsal halls in the Education Center are available for group and private lessons, or they can be used for smaller gatherings such as board meetings and bridal showers. The rehearsal halls and studio theatre are also used for community educational activities such as ballroom dancing and band performances.

Since its sold-out grand opening in March 2012 the buzz about the new center has been extremely enthusiastic.

entertainment & culture

Spotlight on

The Show Goes On in South Central Kentucky

Theatre

By Amanda Knoles

and visual arts events, the 800-seat theater became a part of the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) in July 2012. According to SKyPAC Executive Director Tom Tomlinson, the theatre will remain open for at least the 2012–13 season and then likely close temporarily for extensive revitalization work as it is readied for its second century as Bowling Green’s cornerstone arts facility.

Plaza Theatre www.plaza.org

Kentucky Repertory Theatre www.kentuckyrep.org

Kentucky Repertory Theatre in located in historic downtown Horse Cave, midway between Louisville and Nashville. The nationally recognized organization is a not-for-profit professional theatre featuring year-round performances and arts programming. In addition to original productions, Kentucky Rep regularly presents the work of guest artists. Kentucky Voices, started by founder Warren Hammack, celebrates Kentucky playwrights with plays set in and about Kentucky. The Music Series features popular musicians performing bluegrass, Bowling Green’s own “newgrass,” blues rock and other original selections, while the Dance Series entertains audiences with everything from classical, ballet and jazz to modern, world and hip-hop performances. Kentucky Rep is an active participant in the Horse Cave Cultural District Arts & Sciences Summer Camp, which educates participants on all facets of theatre production and provides an opportunity to work alongside professionals in a KRT summer production.

Capitol Arts Theatre The Capitol Arts Theatre on Bowling Green’s Fountain Square is a historic venue for plays, concerts and art exhibits. The original Columbia Theatre, built as a vaudeville house in the late 1890s, was renamed the Capitol Theatre in the mid 1930s and entertained audiences as a movie house for more than three decades. In 1977 the Bowling Green-Warren County Arts Commission bought the theater and embarked on a $1.3 million renovation. A popular setting for performing

Featuring a Mediterranean courtyard, twinkling stars and projected clouds floating across a blue ceiling, Glasgow’s Plaza Theatre originally showcased live vaudeville acts and later operated as a concert and movie theater. Over the years the Plaza hosted a number of notable headliners, including Dinah Shore, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and the Carter Family, among others. After the historic landmark closed and fell into disrepair it was purchased by the city of Glasgow, restored to its 1934 glory, and reopened in 2005. Today the 1,019-seat proscenium theater hosts a variety of events, including national touring acts, a film festival, local performance groups, lectures, meetings and private functions. Music City Sounds, started in the summer of 2012, showcases new bands from the Nashville area, while Homemade Jam, another audience favorite, gives local musicians a chance to perform.

Public Theatre of Kentucky www.ptkbg.org

Founded in 1987, the Public Theatre of Kentucky is a nonprofit organization providing quality theatre and education. Supported by funds generously donated by businesses and individual supporters, the theatre is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Bowling Green and the surrounding region with high-quality theatre and performing arts events. PTK presents four to six Photo courtesy of Plaze Theatre and Ernie Wagoner main stage productions each season and showcases the works of local artists in the lobby before each performance. Theater classes are offered along with Sunburst Youth Theatre, a summer camp for youth ages 7 to 18. An After Hours Series features an eclectic mix of local artists and bands.

www.bgchamber.com

entertainment & culture

Music

Symphonic Sounds in South Central Kentucky By Amanda Knoles

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Orchestra Kentucky

Symphony at WKU

www.orchestrakentucky.com

www.bgwso.org

With a mission to “change lives one note at a time,” Orchestra Kentucky has earned the enthusiastic support of music lovers in the region thanks to creative programming that combines classical works with show tunes, bluegrass and other genres. Celebrating a major milestone in March 2012, Orchestra Kentucky became the resident orchestra for the new Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC). Founded 13 years ago by Music Director/ Conductor Jeffrey Reed and fellow musician Michael Thurman, the group began as the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra. In 2009 the name was changed to Orchestra Kentucky to reflect its growing size and audience. Through the help of local supporters and the hard work of a dedicated group of musicians, the orchestra evolved from a small chamber ensemble to become the only fully professional orchestra in South Central Kentucky. The performance schedule features something for every musical taste, from innovative classical/ pops mixes to family concerts and special events. Over the last decade the orchestra has frequently been joined onstage by The Rewinders, a rock band that performs retro hits by artists ranging from James Taylor and Motown to The Beatles and The Eagles. The Bowling Green Chamber Players and Orchestra Kentucky Chorale often perform at community events, and a youth orchestra and string academy are a part of ongoing educational outreach programs.

Kentucky’s longest-running orchestra has been entertaining enthusiastic audiences since 1908. Originally named the Normal School Orchestra, The Symphony is now a cooperative venture between Western Kentucky University and a board of directors made up of community leaders and WKU Music Department faculty. The Symphony provides talented student musicians and professionals with the opportunity to perform in an orchestral setting contributing to the cultural enrichment of South Central Kentucky. In May 2013 the Symphony will embark on its first international tour, performing in China. Performances range from classical favorites such as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Ravel’s Bolero and Rachmaninoff’s famous piano concertos to Holiday Pops in Van Meter Hall, as well as popular music from Disney and Charlie Brown at Jackson’s Orchard and other unique locations. The Baker Chamber Players present a Chamber Music Concert Series at the Chandler Memorial Chapel and the Baker Arboretum and Downing Museum. Annual fundraisers, The Symphony Soiree and Parties of Note, feature food, fun, spirits and unique surprises. Dr. William Scott, the Baker Professor of Music, is the music director for The Symphony. During his tenure, the full-time string faculty at WKU has tripled, a Pre-College Strings Program for children has been developed, and there are now orchestral strings classes being taught in 17 of the area’s public schools.

entertainment & culture

Celebrate! Regional Festivals & Events

By Jay Nehrkorn

March

May

1st Saturday in March – Franklin-Simpson Chamber of Commerce Community Health Fair, presented by The Medical Center at Franklin, offers more than $500 in free screenings and valuable medical information.

The Mini Corvette Challenge, a fundraiser that has raised nearly half a million dollars for the South Central Kentucky Junior Achievement program since its inception in 1995, celebrates its 19th running in 2013. This fast and feverish racing event features go-karts with Corvette-styled bodies specially painted to represent sponsoring businesses. www.jaforkids.com

April 1st Saturday in April – Franklin Downtown Merchants Cherry Blossom Festival Authors and readers come together at the Knicely Conference Center every third weekend in April for the Southern Kentucky Book Fest. This fundraiser to promote literacy features presentations, readings and book signings by nationally known adult and children’s book authors and illustrators. www.sokybookfest.org

A celebration of historic Scottsville, Jacksonian Days features a week of food, music, crafts and lots of fun. Events include a demolition derby, beauty pageant, street fair, cruise-in, 5K run and more. Contact the Scottsville Chamber for more information at 270-237-4782. The National Corvette Museum begins its yearly onsite event season with the April NCM Bash. This reunion for owners of all generation Corvettes includes road tours, demonstrations, seminars, car shows and an exciting unveiling of the next year’s model. www.corvettemuseum.org Hats, Horses & The Derby raises funds to support horses at the Rainhill Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, as downtown Bowling Green merchants donate a percentage of sales during the event to this worthy cause. The weekend’s events include extended shopping hours, live music, and food and drinks. www.barbarastewartinteriors.com www.rainhillrescue.com

Select Friday nights Memorial Day through Labor Day – Franklin-Simpson Renaissance Summer Nights Concert Series brings musical acts from Nashville area as well as Atlanta and from the streets of Memphis, playing all genres of music. For more information, visit www.fsrenaissance.org Parades and pageants are just two of the many attractions of the Adairville Strawberry Festival, which also features carnival rides, live entertainment, a 5K run and vehicle shows. A re-enactment of the famous May 30, 1806, duel between Charles Dickinson and Andrew Jackson adds a touch of history and, of course, there are plenty of delicious strawberry dishes to enjoy. Contact the Logan County Chamber of Commerce at 270-726-2206 for more information. The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club’s All-American Soap Box Derby — the third-largest such event in the world — is held at a state-of-theart, specially built track at Phil Moore Park. Kids compete in racers they’ve built themselves, with winners having the chance to race in the world championship in Akron, Ohio. The event runs for its 16th year in 2013 and raises funds for childfocused charities. www.bgkiwanis.org/soapbox

June June marks the annual return of the Bowling Green Concerts in the Park Series, with live music every Wednesday of the month at noon in Fountain Square Park. Then, in July and August, the series hosts an eclectic mix of live bands in Fountain Square Park and Circus Square Park each Friday night. All of the concerts are free to the public. www.downtownbg.org Gather the clan and head to the Glasgow Highland Games. Typically held the first weekend in June at Barren River Lake State Park, this celebration of Scottish and Irish cultures includes the Ceilidh (pronounced “Kay-lay”), a feast that includes music and dancing; traditional games and feats of strength; pipe and drum music; crafts; and the Tartan Ball. www.glasgowhighlandgames.com

2nd Saturday in June – Franklin-Simpson Chamber of Commerce Mustang Mania at the Downs, presented by Hunt-Ford, is an all Mustang car show that brings all makes and models of Mustangs and Mustang lovers from all over the Southeast and as far north as Canada. The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, which celebrated its 10th year at Beech Bend Raceway in 2012, is a must see for gear heads. Highlights include a cruise-in to the kick-off party, Show ’N’ Shine and drag racing events. The Cacklefest finale features flaming headers and roaring engines as vintage dragsters are push started as in years past. www.museum.nhra.com Photo courtesy of Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum/ND

Just like Kentucky’s blueberry industry, the annual Blueberry Festival in Edmonton has grown! Beginning as a small, in-store event in 2001, the two-day festival, held in mid-June, now encompasses Edmonton’s town square and offers a midway, games, live music, crafts, contests and delicious blueberry snacks of all kinds. www.kyblueberryfestival.com A bargain-hunter’s road trip like no other, the annual 400 Mile Sale along Kentucky’s scenic Highway 68 offers four days of great deals on hard-to-find treasures. From Maysville in northeast Kentucky to Hazel and Sharpe in the southwest, and at all points in between, travelers on the historic route will find yard sales, vendors and local shops ready to serve. Check out the website for maps, events listings and dining/lodging options. www.400mile.com

www.bgchamber.com

entertainment & culture July For more than three decades, Morgantown has celebrated American independence by hosting the Green River Catfish Festival. The event features a parade, carnival, music, a cruise-in, contests, pageants, dancing and a Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza. Of course, the highlight is the fishing tournament, with the biggest catfish netting some lucky fisherman a $50,000 prize! www.morgantown-ky.com Sponsored by the Bowling Green Jaycees, the Southern Kentucky Fair offers a midway, pageants, livestock shows, exhibits, a demo derby and tractor pull, plus live music and that tasty fair food you look forward to all year. The weeklong event is held at the fairgrounds in Lampkin Park. Proceeds benefit local causes. www.sokyfair.org Each July, Corvettes from around the country return to the city “Where Corvettes Are Born” as Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green hosts the National Corvette Homecoming. Enthusiasts can view hundreds of Corvettes, from vintage ’50s models up to the today’s high-tech ’Vettes. Vendor swap meets, a Corvette parade, car shows, seminars and more make this a premier event for car lovers. www.corvettehomecoming.com

August 2nd Saturday in August – Franklin-Simpson Chamber of Commerce Garden Spot 5K Run/Walk, presented by The Medical Center at Franklin Rehabilitation Services, celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2012 with 800 participants. The race has become a community favorite with team challenges and a kids fun run the night before. For more information, visit www.f-schamber.com Honoring the Bowling Green native who became a dessert icon, the Duncan Hines Festival features a baking contest, concert, art exhibit and activities for kids, such as Uncle Duncan’s Duck Derby. The event is hosted by the Bowling Green Junior Woman’s Club, and proceeds benefit worthy causes. www.duncanhinesfestival.com

September Celebrated the Saturday before Labor Day, the Monroe County Watermelon Festival includes a parade, arts and crafts, 5K and fun runs, a cruisein, live music, and lots of watermelon-related fun. Thousands converge on Thompkinsville to help celebrate the event. www.monroeky.com Teams compete to see who can build the most “sandsational” sculpture at the yearly Festival of Sand, sponsored by Scotty’s Contracting and Stone. Participants and spectators also enjoy games, music and food. Cash prizes are given to the first-, secondand third-place winners, and proceeds benefit Kids on the Block. www.kykob.org

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Sponsored by U.S. Bank and held at the Bowling Green/Warren County Regional Airport, the annual Balloons, Tunes and BBQ festival features beautiful hot air balloons on a grand scale. Other attractions at the festival include a carnival, kids’ activities, live music and tempting BBQ. The always popular Balloon Glow, held Friday evening at dusk, is a particularly breathtaking spectacle. Net proceeds benefit the United Way of Southern Kentucky. www.balloonstunesbbq.com Journey to Circus Square Park on the last Saturday of September to sample the city’s cosmopolitan flavor at the Bowling Green International Festival. The festival is characterized by authentic foreign cuisine, unique cultural performances, workshops, enlightening activities and a variety of booths featuring displays and merchandise. www.bginternationalfest.com 3rd weekend in September – Franklin-Simpson Chamber of Commerce Festival on the Square, presented by Vanderbilt Heart, and AACA Antique Car Show celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2012. The biggest event in Franklin includes a Cruise-In, Antique Car Show, Arts & Crafts Show, Sidewalk Sales, pancake fry and much more. For more information, visit www.f-schamber.com Live Racing at Kentucky Downs, www. kentuckydowns.com

October The musical movement known as “newgrass” was born in Bowling Green in the 1970s when the band New Grass Revival began fusing traditional bluegrass with sophisticated, contemporary musical elements. The music returns to its roots in Kentucky each year for the International Newgrass Festival, which features newgrass pioneers and the genre’s best new musicians. www.newgrassfestival.com Celebrating 34 years in 2013, the Medical Center 10K Classic is truly a “Race for Everyone,” featuring the annual10K run, a 10K wheelchair race, a 5K run/walk, a 1.5-mile fun walk and the Children’s Classic. Additional highlights include a health and fitness expo, pasta party and entertainment for spectators and participants alike. www.themedicalcenter10kclassic.com The Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival features a week-long schedule of dozens of events and activities that offer something for everyone. A 57-year tradition, it includes special meals, a golf scramble, parades, carnival rides, historic walking tours, a craft show and flea market, live entertainment, pageants, and more. Don’t miss the Jesse James re-enactment! www.loganchamber.com

The Fountain Square Business Association inaugurated its new Howl-o-ween event in 2012 as a fundraiser for the Bowing GreenWarren County Humane Society. Events include a costumed pet parade and other activities on the Square. www.downtownbg.org The Metcalfe County Pumpkin Festival features arts and crafts, games, delicious food, kids’ activities, a 5K walk/run, a tractor show, and a dance on the courthouse lawn in Edmonton. Contests include the largest, best decorated and best carved pumpkins. Sponsored by the Edmonton-Metcalfe County Chamber of Commerce. www.metcalfechamber.com Merchants around Fountain Square provide Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters during Scare on the Square. The event also features live music, carriage rides around the Square and some nottoo-scary costumed spooks. www.downtownbg.org

November Begin the Christmas season in the heart of Bowling Green at Downtown Lights Up and see Fountain Square Park transformed into an enchanted wonderland. This is a night of lights, Santa, music and downtown shopping for the whole family to enjoy. www.downtownbg.org The National Corvette Museum celebrates the holiday season with Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids will enjoy stories, crafts, holiday performances and photos with Santa in his souped-up sled — a shiny Corvette! Reservations are required. www.corvettemuseum.org 2nd Sunday in November – Franklin Downtown Merchants Christmas Open House. Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving – Antique Malls Open House.

December Downtown merchants and other outside vendors have booths on Fountain Square for gift-shopping during the Christmas Market. In addition to gift items for sale, there are food and drinks for purchase and live entertainment. www.downtownbg.org The Bowling Green Jaycees Christmas Parade is a favorite event for families. Marching bands, floats and miniature Corvettes show their stuff, and downtown merchants provide great holiday shopping. www.bgjaycees.com The Historic Railpark and Train Museum at the L&N Depot hosts the Festival of Trains, featuring scale model railroads, museum and railcar tours, photos with Santa, and more. Apart from the festival, the railpark also offers Polar Express Story Time events for kids in December. www.historicrailpark.com Celebrate the holidays with Christmas in Kentucky at the Kentucky Museum. A free event following the city’s annual Christmas Parade, it offers carolers, games, crafts and gingerbread sampling, plus visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus and WKU’s beloved mascot Big Red. www.wku.edu/museum

section title

recreation & tourism

www.bgchamber.com

recreation & tourism

A Trend tourism

Visitor Spending on the Rise in the Region

hile many areas of the country have suffered declining visitor traffic over the last few years, Warren County has continued to see an increase in tourism spending. The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet reported that total tourism expenditures in Warren County increased by 3.5 percent in 2011 to $336.1 million. Warren County ranked fifth out of Kentucky’s 120 counties in total tourism expenditures for the year. “Our region has been fortunate to see a small increase in tourism spending year after year,” said Vicki Fitch, executive director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Kentucky Living readers voted Bowling Green the “Best Weekend Getaway” in April 2011, several KHSAA [Kentucky High School Athletic Association] Championship games held in Bowling Green had record-breaking attendance last year, and it marked the first full calendar year that the Limited Supplemental Guide Signs for the Historic Railpark and Train Museum were in place on the interstate.”

By Amanda Knoles

Bowling Green offers a wide choice of attractions to choose from, with something for all ages and interests. Tourist favorites include the GM Corvette Assembly Plant and National Corvette Museum, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and Beech Bend Park/Splash Lagoon. Beech Bend Park was named one of the “Top Five Friendliest Parks,” and its Kentucky Rumbler was ranked one of the “Top 20 Best Wooden Roller Coasters” by Amusement Today readers for five years in a row. Visitors to Bowling Green enjoy Southern hospitality and a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment choices in the historic downtown area. In 2010, Bowling Green was named an “All-America City Finalist” by the National Civic League, and Fountain Square was designated a “Top Ten Great Public Space” by the American Planning Association. Natural wonders and an abundance of outdoor recreation are another strong draw. Those with a taste for adventure love exploring Mammoth Cave National Park, Lost River Cave, Kentuck Down Under and Diamond Caverns. Kentucky Living magazine’s “Best of Kentucky” edition gave Mammoth Cave National Park first place as a Vacation Getaway, second place as a Weekend Getaway and third place as a Historical Landmark Museum. Mammoth Cave Adventures features four ziplines over the tree canopy and horseback riding. Other popular attractions include the Kentucky Museum, Historic Rail Park – L & N Depot, and Aviation Heritage Park.

Event planners appreciate the variety of quality meeting spaces Bowling Green offers, including the Sloan Convention Center, Knicely Conference Center at WKU, the National Corvette Museum and SKyPAC. With so many things to see and do in the city and surrounding region, it’s the perfect location for combining business with pleasure. With recent and upcoming additions to several attractions, like the Kentucky Down Under Mammoth Cave Adventures Zipline and horseback riding, the Kentucky Museum’s Quilt Gallery and “Instruments of American Excellence” exhibit, and significant aircraft and railcars joining Aviation Heritage Park and the Historic Rail Park – L & N Depot, there is every reason to believe South Central Kentucky will see even stronger tourism numbers in the years ahead. For more information visit the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at visitbgky.com.

In 2010, Bowling Green was named an “All-America City Finalist” by the National Civic League, and Fountain Square was designated a “Top Ten Great Public Space” by the American Planning Association. www.bgchamber.com

recreation & tourism

Bowling Hot

In 2012, the Hot Rods reached the postseason for the second year in a row.

GreenRods

Revving Up Baseball Action

www.bghotrods.com

By Amanda Knoles

rom April through Labor Day, baseball’s Bowling Green Hot Rods provide familyfriendly and affordable entertainment at their state-of-the-art downtown ballpark. The team was part of the South Atlantic League during their 2009 inaugural season, but joined the Class A Midwest League in 2010 and are currently affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. “The Hot Rods are fortunate to be a part of the great community that is Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky. Over and above the 70-plus Hot Rods games at Bowling Green Ballpark, we are proud to host other events like

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

youth sports, fundraisers and non-baseball shows to entertain the general public,” noted Brad Taylor, team president. Complementing exciting baseball action, each season the team offers a jam-packed promotional calendar featuring an exciting array of annual events, giveaways, food and drink specials, and surprise appearances. A popular promotional item in 2012 was the limited-edition bobblehead created to honor Matt Moore, the first Hot Rod to become a Major League player. Moore made his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011 and is

the first Hot Rod to have his likeness made into a bobblehead doll. In June 2012, the team raised money for USA Cares, a national organization that provides financial support for post-9/11 military and their families. For every $10 ticket sold at the game, the Hot Rods donated $3 to USA Cares. The Hot Rods also wore USA Cares game jerseys that were later auctioned. Other popular events included the Christian Family Radio’s Faith and Family Nights and Feed Your Face night. Fans were also treated to the most extensive fireworks schedule in franchise history with 15 post-game pyrotechnic displays in 2012. The Hot Rods have made tremendous strides on the field over the last three seasons. In 2012, the team reached the postseason for the second year in a row, clinching the first half wild card spot in the Midwest League East Division in a win at home in front of a season-high 5,764 Hot Rods fans. Additionally, Bowling Green sent the most players of any Midwest League team — eight — to the 2012 MWL All-Star Classic in Geneva, Ill. “The 2012 version of the Hot Rods are one of the most exciting teams to watch in the league,” said Taylor in July 2012, when the team announced ticket plans for its home playoff games. “We cannot wait for our great fans to pack Bowling Green Ballpark as this team attempts to bring a title to the city of Bowling Green.” The team brings more than on-the-field excitement to the community. Taylor also emphasizes that local service is an important part of the Hot Rod organization’s mission. The team is involved with in-school programs to promote literacy and the arts and has donated thousands of dollars worth of goods and services to local charities and causes. The ballpark is also frequently used for high school and Western Kentucky baseball games, charity softball games, and community events like the LifeSkills Run for Autism.

Cool Caves

recreation & tourism

Underground Retreats

By Amanda Knoles

delicate formations and paleontological resources, the “New Discovery” section is only visited for scientific study, mapping and photography. The Diamond Caverns Gift Shop offers sluice mining for collectible rocks and gemstones and features a variety of gifts and souvenirs, including fossils, minerals, apparel, books, jewelry, Kentucky crafts and food items.

Lost River Cave www.lostrivercave.com

Home to Kentucky’s only underground boat tour, Lost River Cave has both mystery and history.

outh Central Kentucky is a premier destination for caving. The caves offer fascinating adventures accessible through walking tours and Kentucky’s only underground boat tour.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Visitors to the park also enjoy canoeing and kayaking on the Green River, camping, and more than 80 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and bicycling. Special events throughout the year include wildflower walks, genealogy workshops, the traditional Cave Sing and more.

www.nps.gov/maca

Diamond Caverns

Boasting the world’s longest cave system, with more than 390 miles of discovered passageways, Mammoth Cave National Park is the secondoldest tourist attraction in the United States and has been honored as a World Heritage site. The park welcomes more than 500,000 visitors annually, with most taking a cave tour. Mammoth offers year-round cave tours of different lengths and difficulty, from short quartermile walking tours to strenuous treks requiring crawling and climbing. Ranger-led youth tours give children a chance to enjoy a caving adventure that combines learning with fun. The recently expanded Visitor Center, designed as a sustainable, “green” building, offers educational exhibits for visitors who want to learn about the park, its history and ongoing programs.

www.diamondcaverns.com

Diamond Caverns in Park City is the fourtholdest show cave in the nation. Discovered in 1859, the underground cave’s cathedral-like chambers have been equipped with state-of-theart lighting, allowing better views of the thousands of intricate drapery deposits, stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone deposits. Temperatures in the cave are a comfortable 58 degrees year-round. Guided hour-long tours begin every 20 to 30 minutes, seven days a week. Guests are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes for the half-mile hike, which includes 350 stair steps throughout the tour. Gordon Smith, Gary Berdeaux and members of the Cave Research Foundation discovered a new section of the cave in 1999. To protect the

Home to Kentucky’s only underground boat tour, Lost River Cave has both mystery and history. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not has described the river running through the cave as the shortest and deepest river in the world. Visitors can take the 20-minute guided walking tour along the river’s edge, followed by a 25-minute boat tour inside Lost River Cave. Tour guides share stories about Native Americans, early European settlers, Civil War troops and notorious outlaw Jesse James, all of whom sought refuge in the underground wonder. The Kid’s Discovery Crawl Tour, designed for ages 6 to 12, gives kids a chance to get really dirty (with their parents’ approval) as they learn safe cave practices. Lost River also offers school programs for schools to help students experience the cave environment and learn more about living in a karst region. Wildflower Gifts features a unique selection of nature-themed gifts, with proceeds going to support The Nature Center. Lost River Cave also offers free activities that include nature trails, bird watching, picnic areas and a seasonal Butterfly Habitat.

www.bgchamber.com

recreation & tourism

Corvette Museum National

On Track for New Motorsports Park

owling Green’s National Corvette Museum pays tribute to America’s iconic sports car with more than 70 Corvettes on display in a space spanning 115,000 square feet. The museum, visited by over 146,000 people each year, is the only facility of its kind in the United States dedicated to a single model. Nostalgic vignettes mirror the Corvette’s early history with a Main Street barbershop from the mid-1950s, Route 66, and a Chevy dealer showroom from the 1960s, among others. The Skydome is the largest display area, featuring the Corvette Hall of Fame and constantly changing exhibits of popular models. Visitors to the museum get an up-close look at classic designs, modern-day marvels of engineering and even prototypes for cars that were never produced. Two educational driving simulators, the first of their kind in the United States, provide a safe learning environment to help educate drivers of all ages and experience levels. The museum also offers several meeting venues, the Corvette Store and Corvette Café. Founded in 1994 and boasting a membership of 35,000, the museum has thrived over the last 19 years under the guidance of Executive Director Wendell Strode and a staff of dedicated employees and volunteers. Strode is currently

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

overseeing another exciting expansion, the NCM Motorsports Park. If fundraising goes as planned, the park will open in time for the museum’s 20th anniversary, Labor Day weekend 2014. “We’ve been raising money, one acre at a time,” Strode said. “Car clubs, individuals and businesses can sponsor an acre at the park for $15,000. That can be acknowledged as a taxdeductible contribution, or the donor can have it credited toward future track time.” According to Strode the first phase will be built on 184 acres and will have a 2.94-mile road course, an autocross/skid pad area, a paddock and a control tower/administration building. Located across from the museum with over 1.5 miles of Interstate 65 frontage, the NCM Motorsports Park will be one of the most centrally located and easily accessible driving facilities in the country. The track is being designed by accredited consultants in accordance with accepted professional standards, including Sports Car Club of America specifications. Strode says safety will be the top priority. The GM-sponsored Corvette Racing/Pratt & Miller Team will make the NCM Motorsports Park its home track, and plant engineers from the Corvette Assembly Plant, located across Interstate 65, will have easy access to the site for testing.

www.corvettemuseum.org

NCM will partner with WKU to provide educational opportunities for students in engineering, math and science classes. Working with organizations committed to teen driver safety, NCM will provide programs, classes and track time so teenage drivers can learn car control and safe handling in a controlled environment. The facility will also be available to state, city and county police, as well as fire and emergency personnel, for specialized training. The state-of-the-art multi-function driving facility will offer programs for high-performance driver education taught by highly trained certified instructors. Car clubs, motorcycle enthusiasts and other organizations hosting driving events will also be able use the facility throughout the year. “The fact that Bowling Green is the birthplace to every Corvette since 1981, and it’s the home of the National Corvette Museum, having a Motorsports Park is just another way to draw enthusiasts into our community,” said GM Corvette Assembly Plant Manager and NCM Board Member Dave Tatman.

recreation & tourism

Beech Bend

Family Entertainment Destination

www.beechbend.com

By Amanda Knoles

Photo courtesy of Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum/ND

ituated on 379 acres surrounded by beech trees and Bowling Green’s rolling hills, this family-owned and operated amusement park features more than 40 rides, a water park, miniature golf course, petting zoo, racetrack and campgrounds. Named the “5th Friendliest Park in the World” by Amusement Today five years in a row, Beech Bend goes the extra mile to make visitors feel welcome with affordable ticket prices and amenities like free parking, free sunscreen, free tube/mats and unlimited soft drinks. “Offering families more value is very important to us,” explained Charlotte Gonzalez, park manager. “We like to give our guests a little something extra.” Zero-G, the park’s tallest new thrill ride, opened in May 2012. The zerogravity experience lifts riders 140 feet in the air before plunging at speeds up

to 60 mph. Other new attractions include the Wild Bill Hiccups Wild West Show and the Lily Pad Challenge at Splash Lagoon. The fun-for-all-ages water park also features a lazy river, wave pool and Tiki Island. Featuring four roller coasters — the Kentucky Rumbler, Wild Mouse, Looping Star and Dragon Coaster — the park also offers a recently remodeled Haunted House, plus fun rides for smaller children like the Bumble Bee Bop, Happy Pond and Mighty Mac. The Kentucky Rumbler was featured on the Discovery Channel documentary Building the Biggest and was named the “16th Best Wooden Coaster in the World” at Amusement Today’s 14th Annual Golden Ticket Awards. Beech Bend is also the new home for the Sea Dragon, purchased from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Beech Bend Raceway, open March through November, hosts many national events, including the Tenn-Tuck Bracket Bash, the Lucas Oil Series, the Buick GS National and the National Mustang Racers Association World Finals. Stock car racing is featured on the Oval Track on Friday nights, with drag racing on Tuesdays and Saturdays and NHRA drag racing on Sundays. For those who want to spend more than a day, the campground offers 500 sites in a wooded setting within walking distance of the Barren River. Over 250 campsites have full hookups, and WiFi service is available for a fee throughout the campgrounds. Both RV and tent camping are permitted, and RVs are available for rent.

& at the L&N Depot Historic Railpark Train Museum All Aboard for Learning and Fun

he golden days of rail travel are celebrated at the Historic Railpark & Train Museum at the L&N Depot. Bowling Green has a long and varied transportation history, from steamboats traveling the Barren River to the railroad and eventually the current interstate system. At one time, the current L&N Depot, built in 1925, saw over 20 trains departing per day. The all-volunteer, nonprofit Historic Railroad Committee (now called the Friends of the L&N Depot), was formed to acquire authentic, historic railroad cars for display at the Bowling Green Louisville and Nashville Depot. Today, the goal of the Friends of the L&N Depot is to provide a venue for tourism and local interest and for educational development, within a historic facility. Visitors of all ages will enjoy guided tours of a railway post office car, dining car, sleeper car, office car and a vintage little red caboose. Additionally, a diesel locomotive, a WWII Unit Hospital car and a rare, three-section segregation-era rail car can be viewed. Inside the two-story museum, visitors can explore at their own pace. Kids and adults alike will love the model railroad exhibit. Displays on the Civil

www.historicrailpark.com

By Laura Wilcoxen

War, segregation and even hobo culture round out the social, economic and cultural picture. There’s a movie theater on site, and kids under 5 will love the play area in the museum gift shop. For the researcher or historian, the depot also houses the L&N Historical Society National Archives. The depot is home to special events including the annual Train Show and Sale, held each February by the sHOw Modular Model Railroad Club, Inc. Holiday-themed December events include the Festival of Trains, featuring scale model railroads, photos with Santa and more, and Polar Express Story Time, where kids enjoy a reading of The Polar Express aboard the Duncan Hines Dining Car, followed by cookies and hot chocolate. The Historic Railpark & Train Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from April through October 15; October 16 through March, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is open every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Call 270-745-7317 for prices, event schedules or to plan a tour, or visit the website for more information on the museum’s history and displays. www.bgchamber.com

recreation & tourism

Park Resort Mammoth

Swing, Shoot, Taste and Relax

www.parkmammothresort.us

By Jay Nehrkorn

or nearly 50 years, guests of Park Mammoth Resort have found it to be a relaxing vacation and a great place to mix pleasure with business. Located at the doorstep of Mammoth Cave National Park and just 25 minutes from downtown Bowling Green, the resort is a short drive from great regional attractions, but its on-site winery, golf course and shooting complex also make it an attraction in and of itself. The Lodge and Conference Center crowns a scenic wooded bluff, and the rustic interior décor complements the natural vistas. The facility offers 100 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant and three attractive meeting spaces. Also located at the lodge is the Kentucky Proud Wine Room, featuring award-winning Kentucky wines as well as wines made by the resort’s own Cave Valley Winery. A number of enhancements have been made to the resort in recent years, including ongoing guest room renovations. Resort CEO Nick Noble says that more new offerings are forthcoming. “I think what you’ve seen from my brother and I since we bought the resort is a steady track record of improvements,” Noble said. “We’ve got big plans,

and everything in due time, but some of our future expansion plans include a cedar and stone pavilion, an additional facility for wine-making tours, and more conference areas so that we can host larger meetings.” Sporting opportunities at the resort make it a hot spot for golfers and shooting sports enthusiasts. Cave Valley Golf Club features 18 holes of scenic golf and hosts corporate events as well as offering memberships for local golfers and specials for visitors. The resort is also the home of Rockcastle Shooting Center, a premier complex for virtually all shooting disciplines. Rockcastle has been the venue for the prestigious Shooting Industry Masters for two consecutive years and hosts the largest annual three-gun championship in the nation, drawing shooters from across the country and the globe. “What sets Rockcastle apart is that most ranges have just sporting clays, or just a pistol and rifle range,” Noble explained. “There are very few places you can go and shoot the vast array of disciplines that we offer, from archery to longrange rifle and from short-range pistol or rifle to sporting clays and five stand.”

BG Parks Fit 5 for ’13

Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Recommends: By Jay Nehrkorn

TAKE A STROLL: Bowling Green maintains a number of trails perfect for recreational walking, including the popular RiverWalk at McConnell Park. Located at 200 East First Avenue, the nearly 72-acre park offers a scenic and convenient place for walkers, including overlooks of the Barren River and a pedestrian bridge.

PLAY WITH THE POOCH: BGPR hasn’t forgotten that dogs need a place to play, too. Bowling Green’s Bark Park at H.P. Thomas Park on Cave Mill Road has fenced areas to keep large and small dogs separated while allowing plenty of room for a friendly game of fetch.

HIT THE FITNESS FACILITY: The BGPR Fitness Facility at 225 East 3rd Avenue offers affordable, year-round access to fitness equipment and programming in a climatecontrolled environment. Strength-building and cardiovascular equipment are available, as well as racquetball/wallyball courts, aerobics and yoga classes, whirlpools, saunas, fitness instructors, and locker rooms. Open seven days per week.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

A WET WORKOUT: Whether you’re doing laps or just splashing around, swimming is great exercise. Russell Sims Aquatic Center at Preston Miller Park offers a zero-depth entry play area, 50-meter pool, water slides, diving boards and a concession area. Their yearly season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

FULL-COURT FITNESS: If you’d rather play than work out to stay fit in the coolweather months, then check out BGPR’s indoor basketball and dodgeball leagues. The Bowling Green Recreation Center has two indoor courts, with basketball leagues offered for both kids and adults. There are three dodgeball league divisions for players 14 years and older, and co-ed teams are available.

recreation & tourism

South Central Kentucky attractions Exciting, Entertaining and Enlightening

By Jay Nehrkorn American Cave Museum/Hidden River Cave Located in Horse Cave, the museum and cave showcase Karst geology and how caves have impacted local history. Three cave tours ranging from easy to strenuous are offered. www.cavern.org Aviation Heritage Park Honoring South Central Kentucky’s distinguished aviators, AHP preserves the stories of these brave pilots through a growing number of vintage aircraft and events. The park features an F-4D Phantom II, a Grumman F9F-5 Panther and a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. Tune in to FM station 89.3 at the park to hear more about the aircraft and their pilots. www.aviationheritagepark.com

cave, playground, picnic area and a museum with actual dinosaur fossils. www.dinoworld.net Jackson’s Orchard This family-owned farm has more than 11,000 apple, peach and cherry trees. The orchard features in-season specialty products, children’s activities and yearly festivals. www.jacksonsorchard.com Kentucky Down Under Go on an interactive walkabout, play a didgeridoo, and meet some of Australia’s most interesting animals at this Horse Cave destination. www.kdu.com

Beech Bend A family-fun destination since 1898. The park offers exciting rides — such as the new 140-foot tall Zero-G — plus attractions and shows for all ages. Cool off at Splash Lagoon Water Park, and check out the exciting schedule of racing events at nearby Beech Bend Raceway. On-site camping facilities are available. www.beechbend.com Bowling Green Hot Rods Enjoy America’s pastime with the Hot Rods — the Class A Minor League Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays — each April through August at Bowling Green Ballpark. Interactive games, promotions and giveaways add to the fun. www.bghotrods.com Chaney’s Dairy Barn Famous for its premium homemade ice creams, Chaney’s also serves lunch and dinner daily. Seasonal events like the free Ice Cream & A Moovie series and the Kentucky Proud Festival are family favorites. Group tours of the working dairy farm and use of their meeting facilities are available by reservation. www.chaneysdairybarn.com Corsair Artisan Distillery Experience a sample of Kentucky’s distilling heritage. This independent micro distillery specializes in handcrafted batches of spirits and whiskey using classic pot stills. Corsair welcomes visitors for tours of the distillery every Friday and Saturday or by appointment. www.corsairartisan.com Diamond Caverns This privately owned cave near Mammoth Cave National Park has thrilled visitors for more than 150 years. State-of-the-art lighting illuminates beautiful calcite deposits, flowstone formations and cathedrallike chambers. One-hour, guided tours are offered yearround. www.diamondcaverns.com Dinosaur World Life-sized dinosaur and mammoth replicas are displayed in natural settings at this popular Cave City attraction. The park includes a fossil dig for kids, movie

Lost River Cave Complementing Kentucky’s only underground boat tour are the new cave crawl for kids and above-ground features such as trails, an educational wetland, an enchanting butterfly habitat and a fine gifts shop. www.lostrivercave.com Mammoth Cave National Park Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 390 miles explored. Tours designed for a variety of physical capabilities include grand chambers and complex labyrinths. The scenic park offers camping and outdoor recreational opportunities, and visitors in 2013 will enjoy the newly expanded visitors center. www.nps.gov/maca National Corvette Museum Explore the evolution of the Corvette through interactive exhibits for all ages, rare memorabilia and more than 80 display cars representing each era of this American icon. www.corvettemuseum.org Riverview at Hobson Grove This elegant house museum representing the Victorian Period of 1860–1890 is a historic site on the National Register and on the Civil War Discovery Trail, having been used as a munitions magazine by Confederate troops who occupied Bowling Green in 1861. The home is open for tours and hosts several yearly events. www.bgky.org/riverview

Kentucky Museum The Kentucky Museum, on the campus of WKU, offers a look into Kentucky’s history, arts and culture. Permanent exhibits explore the life of Bowling Green native Duncan Hines, the Civil War’s impact on Kentucky, regional quilting, and a furnished 1815 log house. The newest permanent exhibit, “Instruments of American Excellence,” features nearly 200 everyday objects people have used to do extraordinary things. www.wku.edu/museum Historic Railpark & Train Museum at the L&N Depot Rail transportation history comes to life in a way that educates and entertains. Enjoy interactive exhibits, view vintage railroad artifacts and explore actual restored railcars dating back to the early and middle 1900s. www.historicrailpark.com

South Union Shaker Village The restored 1824 Centre House at historic South Union Shaker Village displays scores of original artifacts and manuscripts, with furnishings exhibiting the high levels of Shaker craftsmanship. Nearby, the 1869 Shaker Tavern, built by the Shakers as a hotel for railroad travelers, offers bed and breakfast accommodations and meeting spaces. www.shakermuseum.com Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp Resort Reserve a campsite or cabin for a family getaway. Amenities include an outdoor theater, pool and waterslide, mini golf, playgrounds, fishing ponds, highspeed Internet, laundry facilities, and more. The resort is just four miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. www.jellystonemammothcave.com

And More … Barren River Lake State Resort Park www.parks.ky.gov Guntown Mountain www.mammothcave.com/guntown/ Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum www.mammothcave.com/guntown/wildlife.htm

www.bgchamber.com

South Central Kentucky Public Parks & Recreation Centers For more information about South Central Kentucky’s public recreation facilities, contact the organizations listed below.

Amphitheater Archery/Shooting Range Badminton Court Baseball/Softball Field Basketball Court Batting Cage/Pitching Machine Bike Course/Trail Boating Community Center Croquet Court Cross-Country Course Disc Golf Dog Park Fishing Fitness Facility Football Field Garden Gazebo Golf Course Gymnasium Historic Site Horseshoe Pit Picnic Area Playground Racquetball Court Remote Control Car Track Roller Hockey Rink RV Hookups Sand Play Court Skate Park Soap Box Derby Track Soccer Field Swimming/Aquatic Center Tennis Court Volleyball Court Walking/Nature Trail

recreation & tourism

Bowling Green / Warren County Parks Park Name Address Ashmoor Park Ashmoor Subdivision • • Basil W. Griffin Jr. Park 2055 Three Springs Road • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Bowling Green Recreation Center 225 E. Third Ave. • • • • • Browning Community Park 3866 Browning Road • • C.W. Lampkin Park 506 Woodway Street • • • • • • • Chuck Crume Nature Park Topmiller Avenue West • Circus Square Park 601 State Street • • •* Covington Woods Park/Paul Walker Golf Course 1044 Covington Avenue • • • • • • • • Coy Alford Park/Delafield Community Ctr. 800 Beauty Avenue • • • • Cross Winds Golf Course 1031 Wilkinson Trace • The Crossings 2507 Crossings Boulevard • Ed Spear Park 226 Sunset Avenue, Smiths Grove • • • • • • Ephram White Park 6487 Louisville Road • • • Fort Webb Park Beech Bend Rd./BG Country Club Dr. • Fountain Square Park 445 E. Main Street • • G.H. Freeman Park 545 Rich Pond Road-Plano Road • • • • • • H.P. Thomas Park 850 Cave Mill Road • • • • Hadley Community Park 12170 Morgantown Road • • • Hobson Grove Park/Riverview 1200 W. Main Street • • • • • James Hines Park 1218 Boatlanding Road • • • Kummer/Little Recreation Center 333 College Street • • Lovers Lane Park 385 Lovers Lane • • • • Michael O. Buchanon Park 9222 Nashville Road • • Parker-Bennett Recreation Center 300 Jenkins Street • • • • • Pedigo Park 1341 Normalview Avenue • • • • • • Phil Moore Park 7101 Scottsville Road, Alvaton • • • • • • • • Preston Miller Park/Russell Sims Aquatic Ctr. 2303 Tomblinson Way • • • • • Ogden Park 1600 Park Street • Reservoir Hill Park 900 High Street • • • • • Richardsville Community Park 1779 Richardsville Road • • • • RiverWalk/McConnell Park 200 First Avenue East • Riverfront Park Riverview Drive & U.S. 31 W Bypass • Roland Bland Park/Skate Park 400 Center Street • • • • • • • • Romanza Johnson County Park Mt. Lebanon Church Road, Alvaton • • • 1220 Fairview Avenue • • • • • • • • • Spero Kereiakes Park Thomas Landing Park 4124 Barren River Road • Weldon Peete Park Old Louisville Road • • West Gate Park Morgantown Road • • • Westside Neighborhood Park Brownslock & Vine Streets • • Woodburn City Park Highway 361, Woodburn • • • •

• • • •

• • • • • • • •

*Circus Square Park features interactive splash fountain

•

Amphitheater Archery/Shooting Range Badminton Court Baseball/Softball Field Basketball Court Batting Cage/Pitching Machine Bike Course/Trail Boating Community Center Croquet Court Cross-Country Course Disc Golf Dog Park Fishing Fitness Facility Football Field Garden Gazebo Golf Course Gymnasium Historic Site Horseshoe Pit Picnic Area Playground Racquetball Court Remote Control Car Track Roller Hockey Rink RV Hookups Sand Play Court Shuffleboard Court Soap Box Derby Track Soccer Field Swimming/Aquatic Center Tennis Court Volleyball Court Walking/Nature Trail

ALLEN COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address Cedar Springs Fire Department Park Old Port Oliver Road, Scottsville • • Cedar Springs #2 Fire Department Park Hwy. 98, Brownsford Road, Scottsville • • Community Center Poplar & Third Streets, Scottsville • • • Crow Street Park Orange Street, Scottsville • • Dumont Hill Park (in development) N. Bedilia Street, Scottsville • Fred Hale Park Cottage Drive, Scottsville • • • • Halifax Community Park 555 Halifax Settle Road, Scottsville • • Meador Fire Department Old Gainesville-Port Oliver Road, Scottsville • • Old Gallatin Road Side Park 31E, Old Gallatin Road, Scottsville • • South Allen Fire Department Park Maple Grove Church Road, Adolphus • • Stoney Point Fire Department Park Keen Road, Franklin • •

• • •

•

BARREN COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address American Legion Park 805 Happy Valley Road, Glasgow • • • • • • • • Beaver Trail Complex 115 Beaver Trail, Glasgow • • • • • Gorin Park 201 Gorin Park Drive, Glasgow • • • • • • • Liberty Street 309 S. Liberty Street, Glasgow • • • • • Twyman Park 545 Bunche Avenue, Glasgow • • • • • Weldon Park 100 Weldon Drive, Glasgow • • • • • BUTLER COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address Charles T. Black City Park 227 Helm Lane, Morgantown • • • • • • • •

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

recreation & tourism

EDMONSON County Parks Park Name Address Brownsville City Park Washington Street, Brownsville • • Chalybeate Sports Complex Highway 745, Chalybeate • • • • • • Edmonson County Ballpark Hwy. 70, Mammoth Cave Rd., Brownsville • • • • • •

•

• • •

Hart County Parks Park Name Address Munfordville Sports Complex 151 Home Run Drive, Munfordville • • • LOGAN COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address Carpenter Fitness & Aquatics 265 N. Main Street, Russellville • • • Hampton Park East Seventh Street, Russellville • • • • McCutchen-Coke Municipal Park Auburn • • • • • Russellville Recreation Center 190 S. Winter Street, Russellville • • Russellville-Logan County Memorial Park 600 Bobby Sawyer Way, Russellville • • • • • • • • • •

METCALFE COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address Branstetter Park Highways 90 and 163, Summer Shade • • • Edmonton Memorial Park 100 Park Street, Edmonton • • • • • • • • • George K. Bowling Community Park 1608 W. Stockton Street, Edmonton • • • • • • • • Metcalfe County Park Highway 68 near Greensburg • • • • • Pedigo Spring Park North Main Street, Edmonton • • • Sulpher Well Park Highway 70, Sulpher Well • • • • MONROE COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address Fountain Run City Park Highway 10, Gamaliel • • Gamaliel City Park Highway 100, Gamaliel • • • Old Mulkey State Historic Site Old Mulkey Road, Tompkinsville • • • • • Tompkinsville City Park Mill Creek Road, Tompkinsville • • • • • • • Simpson COUNTY PARKS Park Name Address Franklin Simpson County Park Filter Plant Road, Franklin • • • • • • • • • Allen County....................................................................270-237-3238 Edmonson County . ........................................................270-597-3814 Monroe County................................................................270-487-5504 Barren County.................................................................270-561-3811 Hart County.....................................................................270-524-4752 Simpson County..............................................................270-586-8999 Bowling Green................................................................270-393-3000 Logan County..................................................................270-726-5033 Warren County................................................................270-842-5302 Butler County..................................................................270-526-3557 Metcalfe County..............................................................270-432-7275

Index of Advertisers & Preferred Businesses Accountants

Adult Care / Senior Living

Agricultural / Rural Home Financing

BKD, LLP — Page 11

400 E. Main St., Suite 200 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-0111.......................... fax (270) 843-0359 www.bkd.com BKD, LLP is one of the largest CPA and advisory firms in the U.S., providing consulting, tax, assurance and accounting outsourcing solutions to businesses, governmental entities, not-for-profit organizations and individuals.

Shelton CPA’s, LLP — Page 11

Bowling Green Retirement Village

445 Middle Bridge Road Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 842-5433 www.bgrv.com • Independent and Full Assisted Living Apartments/Suites • Weekly Housekeeping • 24-Hour Emergency Response System • Beauty Salon/Barber Shop • Transportation to/from Doctor Appointments • Scheduled Activities • Indoor Heated Swimming Pool • State Certified Assisted Living Community

Farm Credit Mid-America

5572 Russellville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 782-3310.......................... fax (270) 782-7294 www.farmcredit.com Farm Credit is the leading agricultural lender that provides exceptional customer service. We offer financing for rural residents along with all your farming needs. Call Megan, Dana or Sarah today!

Airport Bowling Green Warren Co. Regional Airport — Page 6

1000 Woodhurst Drive Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 842-1101.......................... fax (270) 842-7245 www.bgwcairport.org Robert Barnett, Airport Manager Open 24 hours, 7 days per week, full flight services, all weather capability, rental cars, aircraft maintenance, free parking, FBO courtesy car, two flight schools, aerial tours and hangar leasing. Airport management is now selling aviation fuel.

181 W. Professional Park Court Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 842-9620 www.sheltoncpas.com Shelton CPAs, LLP is the largest local group of CPAs in Bowling Green, KY. We provide top-quality, trustworthy services in accounting, auditing, tax, business valuations, forensics and litigation support.

www.bgchamber.com

index of advertisers Architects

Stengel Hill Architecture — Inside Front Cover

613 W. Main St. Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 893-1875.......................... fax (502) 893-1876 www.stengelhill.com Founded in 1986, Stengel Hill Architecture is a full-service architecture firm based in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, specializing in Healthcare, Commercial and Educational Architecture.

Automobile Dealers

Gary Force Toyota

1860 Campbell Lane Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 843-4321.......................... fax (270) 843-4321 sales@garyforcetoyota.com www.garyforcetoyota.com Proudly serving Bowling Green Area for 30 years. Number-one priority first-class service. LOVE IT OR BRING IT BACK on all used cars. Toyota most dependable car with best resale value on the market and is most American-made vehicle by Kentuckians.

Arts & Entertainment

The Symphony at WKU

500 E Main St Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-7681 bgwso@insightbb.com www.TheSymphonyatWKU.org The Symphony is a 100-year-old regional symphony that performs five concerts and presents three chamber music ensemble performances each year. Season subscription information and group discounts are available.

Construction / Contractors

Gemini Homes, Inc. — Page 52

1043 Pedigo Way, Suite 5 Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 782-8893.......................... fax (270) 782-3908 www.yourgeminihomes.com Kelly Arnold, CGP - owner You Dream! We Build! • Custom Homes • Green Building • Remodeling/Additions • Homes for Sale • Lots for Sale • Decks/Outdoor Spaces • Plan Design • Replacement Windows • Real Estate Sales

Building Materials

Alliance Corporation — Page 16

116 E College St. Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-8848.......................... fax (270) 651-2915 pweaver@alliancecorporation.com www.alliancecorporation.com Since 1975, Alliance Corporation has offered construction management, general contracting, and design/ build services across Kentucky and Tennessee. Alliance manages building projects for education, healthcare, commercial, governmental and industrial clients.

Leachman Buick GMC Cadillac

2012 Scottsville Road PO Box 1749 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 842-4881 www.leachmanauto.com Leachman Buick GMC Cadillac is a family-owned local car dealership that has been in business in Bowling Green for over 68 years. Kentucky’s #1 GMC Dealership!!

Assisted Living

Lee Brick & Block — page 52

309 Dishmon Lane PO Box 3245 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-9813.......................... fax (270) 781-0180 digby@leebrickandblock.com www.leebrickandblock.com Offering a Full Line of Masonry Products, Including: • Concrete & Clay Pavers • Glass Block • Farerock & Stone Age Fireplaces • Retaining Wall Block for Landscapes • Masonry Tools • Mountain Stone & Natural Stone

Holland, Inc. — Page 20

7705 Russellville Road Po Box 73 Rockfield, KY 42274 (270) 781-7044.......................... fax (270) 781-5487 Excavating Contractor: We do site preparation, grade and drain, clearing, and stone. • Subdivisions • Commercial • Industrial • Residential

Luxury Imports of Bowling Green, KY Massey Springs

2945 Smallhouse Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 842-0004.......................... fax (866) 818-1137 leigh@goodworksunlimited.com www.masseyspringsseniorliving.com Massey Springs Senior Living offers assisted living and independent villa living for seniors. Assistance with ADL’s, meals, housekeeping/laundry, 24-hour emergency call system and a caring staff to meet all your needs.

Attorneys

English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP — Page 8

1101 College St. P.O. Box 770 Bowling Green, KY 42102-0770 (270) 781-6500.......................... fax (270) 782-7782 Established in 1973. Engaged in general trial and appellate practice in state and federal courts; health, medical negligence, labor, employment, education, estate planning and probate, banking, corporation, real estate, immigration, and environmental law.

325 Three Springs Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 745-0001.......................... fax (270) 745-0924 bdenver@bowlinggreendealership.com www.bowlinggreendealership.com Factory authorized BMW and Mercedes Benz dealership. Stop in and see this award winning dealership that has made many clients happy. Ask for Brett Denver, General Manager

Automotive Lee Myles Transmissions & Auto Care

710 College St. P.O. Box 51 Bowling Green, KY 42102-0051 (270) 781-3200.......................... fax (270) 843-0458 Jessica@bgchamber.com www.bgchamber.com

Linda B. Thomas, Attorney at Law

996 Wilkinson Trace, Suite A1 Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 842-8737.......................... fax (270) 842-8739 www.smartcounsel.biz Commercial and residential real estate transactions, planning and zoning, business law, entity formation/ administration/dissolution, contracts, business succession strategies, and adoptions.

Mid-South Lumber & Supply, Inc.

107 Emmett Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 843-1094.......................... fax (270) 781-2989 jperkins@midsouthlumber.com www.midsouthlumber.com “We’re More Than Wood” Offering a full line of building products Andersen Circle of Excellence Dealer Benjamin Moore Signature Store Doors, windows, mouldings, decking, roofing, siding.

Builders Association of South Central KY — Page 10

859 Lovers Lane Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 781-3375.......................... fax (270) 782-5082 anapier@bascky.com www.bascky.com Whether you are building or remodeling or just hoping to make a small change to improve your home, we encourage you to Do Business With a Member.

Design Builders Incorporated

5280 Scottsville Road Suite B Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 393-7000.......................... fax (270) 784-6774 Timbuilt@designbuildersonline.com www.designbuildersonline.com We specialize in building luxury custom homes in South Central Kentucky. Remodeling services and additions to existing homes also available. We offer a full array of design services utilizing the latest computer technology, including the most highly rated CADD design software available. Interior decorator on staff for all interior design challenges.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

2335 Barren River Road PO Box 2520 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-9944.......................... fax (270) 782-2506 www.scottmurphydaniel.com • Design/Build Construction • Complete Engineering/Architectural/Design Services • Construction Management Services • Conventional General Contracting • Renovations/Conversions/Expansions

Churches Scott & Murphy, Inc. — Outside Back Cover

Builders & Residential Design

Kerrick Stivers Coyle PLC, Attorneys at Law — Page 31

1025 State St. PO Box 9547 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 782-8160.......................... fax (270) 782-5856 www.ksclawfirm.com Areas of Practice: Insurance Law, Personal InjuryDefense, Personal Injury-Plaintiff, Real Estate, Business Transactions, Estate Planning, Trusts, Business Organizations, Copyright and Trademark.

Scott, Murphy & Daniel, LLC — Outside Back Cover

Bowling Green Christian Church — Page 64

1912 Smallhouse Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 842-6231 office@bowlinggreenchristian.org www.bowlinggreenchristian.org MISSION: We exist to love God through worship, love the church through fellowship, love the world through evangelism and love the broken through compassion.

2335 Barren River Road PO Box 2520 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-9944.......................... fax (270) 782-2506 www.scottandmurphy.com CONCRETE & CIVIL CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST • Curbs • Sidewalks • Pavement • Foundations & Slabs • Retaining Walls • Tilt-Up Panels • Basements • Bridges • Culverts • Catch Basins • Equipment Foundations • Containment Structures / Trenches • Concrete Sawing & Demolition • Retention & Storm Drainage • Site Grading

Holy Spirit Catholic Church — Page 65

4754 Smallhouse Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 842-7777.......................... fax (270) 796-6740 www.holyspiritcatholic.org • Please check Web site for Mass times. MISSION: We are a welcoming Catholic community called to live our faith by celebrating sacraments and prayers; proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ; seeking lifelong faith formation; sharing our time, talents and treasure; and reaching out in compassionate service to others.

Conference / Event Facilities

Stewart Richey Construction — Page 17

2137 Glen Lilly Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-5184.......................... fax (270) 782-6654 www.stewartrichey.com Stewart Richey consists of three areas of service: -Contracting -Service -General Contracting Serving commercial, industrial, and residential customers. A member of the community since 1973.

Contractors WKU Conference Services

654 Campbell Lane Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-1908.......................... fax (270) 745-1911 sue.parrigin@wku.edu www.wku.edu/center WKU Conference Services offers options for event venues such as the newly expanded Knicely Center and the new Augenstein Alumni Conference Center, along with a comprehensive event planning department.

Scotty’s Contracting & Stone, LLC — Page 34

2300 Barren River Road PO Box 4500 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-3998.......................... fax (270) 781-3690 www.scottyscontracting.com Contact us for a FREE estimate! • Crushed Stone, Lime • Roads, Driveways, Parking Lots • Grade and Drain Construction READY TO ROCK!

index of advertisers Contractors - concrete / paving

dcdiversifiedconcrete

Economic Development

Diversified Concrete

3066 Franklin Road Russellville, KY 42276 (270) 792-3334 www.dcdiversifiedconcrete.com Residential and commercial decorative flatwork specialists, including scoring, stamping, staining, etc.

Copiers / Fax Equipment Sales / Service/Supplies

Kentucky Transpark — Page 33

C/o Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce 710 College St, PO Box 51 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-3200.......................... fax (270) 843-0458 www.southcentralky.com The Kentucky Transpark, an environmentally friendly and attractive high-tech commerce and business park, is located on Highways U.S. 31-W and U.S. 68/KY80 on the north side of Bowling Green.

Economic / Industrial Development RJ Young Company

996 Wilkinson Trace, Suite B-5 Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 781-9816 ab.brumfield@rjyoung.com RJ Young provides document solutions to copy, print, scan, secure and share information efficiently. They provide local service, in-house leasing and partner with quality vendors.

Country Clubs

The Club at Olde Stone

950 Village Way Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 393-4653.......................... fax (270) 745-1763 www.olde-stone.com Private Club and Community, includes an 18-hole championship golf course, fine and casual dining, resort-style swimming pool, tennis courts, and much more. Call today to become a member or schedule an event.

Logan Economic Alliance for Development — Page 30

116 S. Main St. Russellville, KY 42276 (270) 726-9575.......................... fax (270) 726-2237 www.loganleads.com LEAD is the economic development agency for Logan County, Kentucky, and its four cities, Adairville, Auburn, Lewisburg and Russellville. LEAD markets industrial buildings and sites throughout the U.S. and globally.

Education

Bowling Green Independent School District — Page 40

1211 Center St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 746-2200.......................... fax (270) 746-2205 www.b-g.k12.ky.us Building on a tradition of excellence, Bowling Green Schools lead the way in education for all. The district serves students in five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one secondary alternative school.

303 Lovers Lane Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-5150.......................... fax (270) 781-2392 joanie.hendricks@warren.kyschools.us www.warrencountyschools.org WCPS is a growing school district, home to 23 schools, including the nation’s first Net Zero School as well as the largest school building in Kentucky.

Western Kentucky University — Page 39

1906 College Heights Blvd. #11056 Grise Hall Bowling Green, KY 42101-1056 (270) 745-6311.......................... fax (270) 745-3893 www.wku.edu/business WKU is a nationally prominent four-year institution with emphasis in undergraduate and graduate studies and relevant applied research. An inspiring faculty and unique Campus Spirit promote success and attract the nation’s best students.

Electrical - Contractors B & R Electrical Inc. — Page 6

550 Kelly Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 793-5698.......................... fax (270) 793-9845 www.br-electrical.com ` • Industrial • Commercial • Construction • Engineering • Design • Maintenance

The Center for Gifted Studies-WKU — Page 45

1906 College Heights Blvd. #71031 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-6323.......................... fax (270) 745-6279 www.wku.edu/gifted The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University has provided services for children and youth who are gifted and talented, their educators, and their parents for over 30 years.

1646 Morgantown Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-8333.......................... fax (270) 781-5113 www.bluegrasselectrical.com Commercial and Industrial Electrical Contractors proudly serving the construction, maintenance, design and machinery relocation needs of our community and region. The quality you expect — The service you deserve.

121 Vanderbilt Court PO Box 51566 Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 393-8466.......................... fax (270) 393-8980 www.iecbg.com A commercial and industrial electrical contractor providing construction, design, engineering and maintenance services statewide since 1999.

Engineering

Dentistry Bluegrass Oral Health Center — Page 60

546 Park St., Suite 400 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-6161.......................... fax (270) 781-6129 www.bgohc.com Our office provides comprehensive dental care in a friendly spa-like environment. Treatments include preventive restorations, Lumineers, root canal therapy, implants, zoom whitening, oral surgery and sedation dentistry.

Doors / Windows

Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University — Page 44

1906 College Heights Blvd. #11056 Bowling Green, KY 42101-1056 (270) 745-6311.......................... fax (270) 745-3693 www.wku.edu/business The Gordon Ford College of Business at WKU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business.

Arnold Consulting Engineering Services — Page 19

1136 South Park Drive PO Box 1338 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 780-9445.......................... fax (270) 780-9873 jarnold@a-ces.com www.a-ces.com With 50 years’ experience in engineering, materials testing, surveying, landscape architecture and project development, our staff provides the knowledge and support needed to address complex problems in our changing world.

Western Kentucky Door & Specialties, LLC

210 E. 3rd Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 904-4870 adrianaugustus@westkydoor.com Western Kentucky Door and Specialties, LLC offers sales, service, installations and repairs of doors in Bowling Green, KY. We service commercial, residential and industrial sites. Call 888.897.5582 for a free estimate.

Dry Wall Nexgen Building Supply

419 State St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 846-2556 kduvall@nexgenbuildingsupply.com Full line of drywall, steel studs, ceilings, fiberglass insulation, STO (eifs), fastners, firestopping, tools and accessories. Three locations serving Kentucky: Bowling Green, Lexington and Louisville.

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College — Page 47

1845 Loop Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 901-1117.......................... fax (270) 901-1146 www.bowlinggreen.kctcs.edu Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is a comprehensive two-year college offering Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees. The College also offers diplomas and certificates in more than 30 program areas as well as Workforce Solutions Training for business and industry and Adult Education and Literacy instruction.

Landmark Engineering — Page 6

183 St. Charles St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-0812.......................... fax (270) 842-0910 www.landmarkengineering.net Landmark Engineering offers a broad range of design services, including: • Civil Engineering • Land Surveying • Transportation Engineering • Materials Testing • Land Planning • Landscape Architecture

Entertainment

Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center — Page 67

601 College St. PO Box 748 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 904-5000.......................... fax (270) 904-0842 www.theskypac.com The new, world-class SKyPAC presents a diverse performance season from September to early June. SKyPAC offers two Visual Art galleries and comprehensive educational programs. SKyPAC rents spaces for events from weddings to board meetings.

Eye Care

Bluegrass Electrical, Inc. — Page 27

Industrial Electrical Contractors — Page 10

Indian Hills Country Club

200 Indian Hills Drive Bowling Green, KY 42102 Office/clubhouse (270) 842-0041 Golf shop (270) 843-8256 info@indianhills-bgky.com www.indianhills-bgky.com Private club with golf course, bar and grill, pool, and snack bar. Call for rental rates for your private party or wedding reception. Corporate and charity golf outings are welcome!

Warren County Public Schools — Page 41

Love & Warden Eye Care

Dr. Tammy H. Love, Dr. Trina R. Warden, Dr. Allison J. Kerr 1256 Campbell Lane Destiny Place, Suite 106 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 796-6021 loveod@bellsouth.net www.loveandwardeneyecare.com Providing comprehensive eye care for the entire family. Diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases and injuries. Contact lens evaluations. Licensed optician to assist with the best frames and lenses for your prescription and budget.

Financial Institutions

Bank of Edmonson County — Page 35

109 N. Main St. PO Box 99 Brownsville, KY 42210 (270) 597-2175.......................... fax (270) 597-2573 www.bankofedmonson.com Bowling Green Branch 6780 Louisville Road........................ (270) 793-0033 Where banking is still a people business! Full-service bank offering checking, CDs, money-market accounts, mortgages, home-equity loans, business checking, commercial loans and Internet banking.

Citizens First Bank — Page 35

1065 Ashley Street, Suite 150 Bowling Green, KY 42103 ((270) 393-0700......................... fax (270) 393-0716 www.citizensfirstbank.com • Checking • Savings • Personal Loans • Business Loans • Mortgage Loans • Online Banking • Bill Pay • E-Statements • Mobile Banking • Merchant Capture • Bowling Green • Franklin • Glasgow • Munfordville • Horse Cave

DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC — Page 11

148 Chester Court Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 843-2247.......................... fax (270) 843-9323 ddsengineering@ddsengineering.com www.ddsengineering.com DDS Engineering, PLLC, is committed to performing our work with “pride and excellence in surveying, civil and geotechnical engineering, landscape architecture and construction materials testing” with over 39 years of experience.

Farmers National Bank — Page 20

1595 Veterans Memorial Highway Scottsville, KY 42164 (270) 237-3141.......................... fax (270) 618-5406 www.farmersnationalky.com • Commercial • Consumer • Auto • Home Equity Lines • Equipment • Mortgage • Construction • and More!

www.bgchamber.com

index of advertisers Funeral & Cremation Services Johnson, Vaughn, Phelps Funeral Homes Inc. — Page 65å

First Security Bank — Page 11

1018 Chestnut St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-9436 www.FirstSecurity.net First Security Bank is a commercial bank with five Bowling Green area locations. Customer Service is our highest priority!

901 Fairview Lane PO Box 1114 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 843-4338.......................... fax (270) 843-2349 jvpfh@bellsouth.net www.jvpfh.com A family owned and operated funeral home. All professional services, from embalming to final preparations, are preformed on location by our qualified staff.

Funeral Homes

Hearing Aids Hospice of Southern Kentucky, Inc. — Page 60

The Hospice House 5872 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 782-3402 www.hospicesoky.org HSK has been Southern Kentucky’s leader in hospice for over 30 years. Serving the BRADD area, we provide care in your home or our Hospice House.

Cone Funeral Home, LLC

Service One Credit Union — Page 10

422 College Heights Blvd. PO Box 51770 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 796-8500.......................... fax (270) 842-1121 www.socu.com When you join SOCU, you become a member of a fullservice, not-for-profit financial cooperative whose primary mission is serving its members. We’re here to serve you!

South Central Bank

Bowling Green Branches (270) 782-9696 1757 Campbell Lane 805 Lehman Avenue 3505 Louisville Road 2710 Nashville Road 5251 Scottsville Road 1709 U.S. 31W Bypass Franklin Branch (270) 586-9696 204 S. Main St. Franklin, KY 42134 www.southcentralbank.com Hometown Banking ... there is a difference! Business or personal, taking care of our customers’ needs is what we are all about.

1510 Campbell Lane Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 904-4201 conefuneralhome@insightbb.com www.conefh.com Cone Funeral Home is a full-service funeral and cremation provider. We take pride in the fact we offer Warren Countians their most affordable options for both funeral and cremation services. We are also the only veteran owned, operated and managed funeral providers in Warren County.

Hardy & Son Funeral Home

3098 Louisville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-3230 hardyandson@hardyandson.com Family owned and operated since 1926, Hardy & Son Funeral Homes strives to make these difficult times as painless as possible for the families we serve.

J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral C. & C.

832 Broadway Ave. 820 Lovers Lane Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 843-3111 www.jckirbyandson.com J.C. Kirby & Son have been serving the folks of Bowling Green and Warren County for the past 50 years. With over 260 years of combined experience, we feel we are adept to solve most any given problem. • Bowling Green Monument Company • Bowling Green Gardens Cemetery

Better Hearing Centers

829 State St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 843-3192 davidmkimbel@yahoo.com Better Hearing Centers has been serving South Central Kentucky since 1967. They have helped thousands of people hear better across the state and offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

Heating & Cooling Rivendell Behavioral Health Services — Page 60

1035 Porter Pike Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 843-1199.......................... fax (270) 782-9996 www.rivendellbehavioural.com Rivendell Behavioral Health Services provides specialty mental health services for chemically dependent/dually diagnosed adolescents and adolescent male sexual offenders, as well as general psychiatric programs for children, adolescents and senior adults.

Lyons Service Company — Page 31

1535 Memphis Junction Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-8793.......................... fax (270) 781-8401 www.lyonservicecompany.com Scheduled maintenance and emergency repairs on mechanical heating and cooling equipment. Installation of building automation controls. Repair of process chillers and broilers. Serving the residential, industrial, commercial, school and healthcare markets.

Home / Commercial IMprovements TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital

1801 Ashley Circle Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 793-1000 www.tristarhealth.com TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital is a 211-bed acute care medical/surgical facility that has served South Central Kentucky for 40 years. Greenview is recognized for its outstanding surgical care.

Hale General Contracting, Inc., dba Hale Roofing

269 New Porter Pike Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 842-2989.......................... fax (270) 782-8811 haleroofing@yahoo.com www.haleroofingky.com Commercial/residential roofing; flat roofing systems; all types of residential roofing products; 41 years in the business in Bowling Green. Member of the Professional Trade Organizations & BBB; service repair division.

Home Decor

Health & Fitness US Bank — Page 3

500 E Main St Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-7516.......................... fax (270) 782-4912 www.usbank.com US Bank provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. We’re open for business and ready to serve you.

Flooring

Hot Yoga Bowling Green — Page 57

730 Fairview Avenue Suite C2 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 793-0011.......................... fax (270) 793-0119 hotyogabg@yahoo.com www.hotyogabowlinggreen.com Hot Yoga utilizes yoga postures, deep breathing and controlled movement in a heated/humidified studio with purified air for health and relaxation. Hot Yoga is much more than a workout — much more than just yoga. The ULTIMATE fitness experience!

Grinstead’s Flooring & Furnishings — Page 17

1353 Old Louisville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 843-1072.......................... fax (270) 843-1075 We carry a complete line of floor covering products, specializing in residential sales and installation. We have the largest selection of quality laminate in Bowling Green. We do not charge for estimates.

Food Service Products

Gordon Food Service Marketplace

2205 Gary Farms Blvd. Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-9934.......................... fax (270) 842-8290 www.gfs.com At GFS Marketplace we carry thousands of top quality foodservice products including produce and dairy, grocery and frozen, fresh meat, paper, and janitorial products in a variety of pack sizes. There is no membership fee. Open to the public.

1635 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 746-9500.......................... fax (270) 746-9113 www.wkdi.com • X-Ray • CT Scan • Ultrasound • Fluoroscopy • Digital Mammography • Bone Density Evaluation • Stereotactic Breast Biopsy • Open MRI and High Field MRI

HealthCare Western Kentucky Sports Medicine Assoc. — Page 57 Commonwealth Health Corp. The Medical Center — Page 54

250 Park St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 2710-745-1000 www.TheMedicalCenter.org Region’s healthcare leader, offering comprehensive services including The Heart Institute, Cancer Treatment Center, Primary Stroke Center, Obstetrics & Neonatology, Orthopaedics, Neuroscience Services, Surgical Weight Loss Program and da Vinci® Robotic Surgery.

165 Natchez Trace, Suite 102 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 901-3454.......................... fax (866) 430-3811 Dr. Umar Khan specializes in non-surgical orthopedic injuries, using the latest technology. He completed his fellowship at the prestigious American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, AL. Treatments: tennis/golfer’s elbow, sports-related injuries, chronic plantar fasciatis, carpal tunnel. Provides sports physicals and concussion assessment.

Healthcare SErvices

Corpcare Graves Gilbert Clinic — Page 56

201 Park St. PO Box 90007 (270) 780-0541.......................... fax (270) 782-4263 www.ggclinic.com Since 1937, Graves-Gilbert Clinic has been a leader in providing quality healthcare to the South Central Kentucky region. The clinic consists of over 50 physicians representing 19 medical specialities.

Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging, a Department of The Medical Center — Page 59

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

1110 Wilkinson Trace Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 796-3590 leerl@chc.net Corpcare offers occupational health and wellness services designed especially for your company. Our goal is to minimize lost workdays, decrease workers’ compensation claims, and help your company have healthier employees. Call Corpcare today!

Creative Interiors — Page 34

5280 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-7379.......................... fax (270) 781-6949 creativeinteriorsbg@gmail.com www.creativeinteriorsbg.com We offer design services from furniture placement to specialty window treatments. We have three workrooms that custom-make window treatments, bedding, headboards, pillows, etc. We can help with remodels, new construction or just help to refresh a room. Nothing is too big or too small.

Hotels / Motels / Bed & Breakfasts

Candlewood Suites Bowling Green KY — Page 7

540 Wall St. Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 843-5505.......................... fax (270) 843-5506 www.candlewoodsuites.com Candlewood Suites is the guest-preferred leader in extended stay. As a member of the IHG family of brands, we participate in Priority Club Rewards, Green Engage and Clean the World.

The Club at Olde Stone

950 Village Way Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 745-1758.......................... fax (270) 745-1763 tlawrence@olde-stone.com www.olde-stone.com Enjoy a luxury lifestyle at your leisure. Accommodations range from a master suite to an entire three-bedroom cottage with views of the course, lake, pool and Jacuzzi. Perfect for all occasions. Call now to reserve your dream cottage!

index of advertisers HVAC Products & Systems Hilton Garden Inn Bowling Green — Page 9 1020 Wilkinson Trace Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 781-6778.......................... fax (270) 781-6998 www.bowlinggreen.stayhgi.com • 100% Smoke Free • Complimentary High-Speed Internet Access • In-room refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave • 32” HD Flat Screen Television • Restaurant, Lounge, Room Service • Fitness Center, Indoor Pool, Indoor Whirlpool • Function Space

Halton Group Americas, Inc.

2413 Nashville Road C4 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 393-7214.......................... fax (270) 843-9931 dtinsley@haltoncompany.com www.halton.com Halton is passionate about indoor environments. We offer business enhancing products, systems and services for comfortable, energy-efficient and safe environments for customers who value well-being of people.

Industrial Pumps & Compressors Industrial Gas Technology, Inc.

Holiday Inn Express Bowling Green KY

165 Three Springs Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 843-3200 or (888) Holiday www.hiexpress.com Experience a warm Southern welcome when you stay at the brand-new Holiday Inn Express Bowling Green hotel. Start your day with a free hot breakfast in our Great Room.

Holiday Inn University Plaza — Page 30

1021 Wilkinson Trace Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 745-0088.......................... fax (270) 842-9585 www.hibowlinggreen.com Bowling Green’s largest hotel is in a class by itself. Featuring 218 spacious rooms and suites, the Hartland Cafe and the Atrium Lounge, Holiday Inn is the perfect place to send your overnight guests.

La Quinta Inn & Suites

1953 Mel Browning St. Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 783-0083 lq6264dos@laquinta.com www.lq.com “We know just what any traveler needs to wake up on the bright side.” * FREE Hot Bright Side Breakfast * Indoor Pool / Hot Tub * Exercise Facilities * Smoke Free * Free WI-FI * Pet Friendly/no extra charge

Ramada - Crossroads Restaurant

4767 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-3000.......................... fax (270) 782-2591 ramadainnbgky@msn.com www.ramada.com • Free Full Hot & Cold Breakfast • Fridge and Microwave in All Rooms • Free Wireless Internet • Outdoor Pool (Seasonal) • Nightly Entertainment • Completely Remodeled Restaurant and Lounge • Exercise Room • Pets Allowed for a fee

150 Vanderbilt Court Bowling Green, KY 42103 (800) 337-1582.......................... fax (270) 783-0739 www.igtinc.net We have over 45 years of experience and offer reliable assistance to our customers in both the sales and technical service aspects of the industrial pump and compressor industry.

680 Campbell Lane Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 904-0480 www.staybridge.com/bowlinggreenky Our all-suite hotel centrally located to the business district, Downtown Bowling Green, WKU, and adjacent to the Knicely Center, we offer the perfect accommodations for leisure and business travelers.

Human Resources Management Southern KY Society for Human Resource Mg

760 Campbell Lane Suite 106 PO Box 124 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-5440.......................... fax (270) 842-1358 donna.payne@lord.com Professional organization providing networking and development opportunities for local Human Resource professionals. Meetings held the last Thursday of each month. Follow us on LinkedIn. Affiliate of SHRM.

AEP Industries, Inc. — Page 33

123 Williamette Lane Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-782-8026 ext 1672............. fax (270) 782-7478 www.aepinc.com AEP’s Printed / Converted Products Division delivers a fully integrated packaging solution to markets such as food, beverage, health and beauty, pet care, and industrial. Processes include co-extrusion blown film, flexographic printing, lamination, slitting, and bag making.

American Howa Kentucky, Inc. — Page 27

445 Jody Richards Dr Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 563-4401.......................... fax (270) 563-4439 www. americanhowaky.com Manufacturer of headliners, sunshades, dash insulators and other interior products for the automotive industry.

B & M Industrial Supply — Page 17

26 Corporate Court Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-4916.......................... fax (270) 781-4714 kelly@bmsupply.com Visit us at one of our two locations. Call us for a line card or catalog.

Industrial / Welding Supplies

Bando USA, Inc. — Page 33

2720 Pioneer Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-4110.......................... fax (270) 843-4746 www.bandousa.com Bando USA has been in Bowling Green since 1987. Our team of associates continually take pride in producing the Highest Quality power transmission belting for all our customers.

Berry Plastics Corporation — Page 27

Holston Gases — Page 28

130 Turner Court Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 843-3420.......................... fax (270) 843-3418 www.holstongases.com • Industrial Gases • Welding & Cutting Supplies • Industrial & Safety Supplies • Medical & Specialty Gases • Propane Serving Industry & Our Community Since 1958

360 Southwood Court Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 746-1100.......................... fax (270) 746-1101 www.berryplastics.com The Bowling Green facility manufactures plastic closures primarily for the food, beverage and distilled spirits industries. Our facility operates in a clean, climatecontrolled environment and offers a competitive wage and benefits plan.

Bowling Green Metalforming L.L.C. — Page 1

2317 Russellville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-8154.......................... fax (270) 842-1404 www.pattidillard.com Call us for any of your insurance & financial needs. • Auto • Home • Life • Health Insurance & Financial Products • Plus, We Offer 24-Hour Good Neighbor Service

Lighting / Security

2445 Nashville Road PO Box 90045 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 846-8400.......................... fax (270) 846-8503 www.heath-zenith.com HeathCo LLC, producers of Heath/Zenith electrical products for the home, is synonymous with quality, integrity and innovation around the globe.

Machinery Movers Continental Machinery Movers of Kentucky

5884 Nashville Road PO Box 10090 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 842-3113.......................... fax (270) 746-0468 www.cmm-ky.com We specialize in the installation of new and used equipment, material handling lines, plant dismantling and relocation, specialized hauling, and industrial rigging. We have warehouse space available.

600 Corvette Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-8019 www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com Located just off I-65 at exit 28, General Motors Bowling Green Assembly is proud to be the only “Home of the Corvette.” Visit the plant’s website for tour information.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. — Page 34

151 Turner Court PO Box 1839 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 842-3319.......................... fax (270) 842-6425 www.hillspet.com Helping to enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets.

5150 Nashville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 783-3600.......................... fax (270) 783-3700 www.internationalpaper.com International Paper is a diversified integrated forest products company. Our facility in Bowling Green produces corrugated shipping containers for manufacturing in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.

Kapstone Container Corporation — Page 29 225 Mitch McConnell Way Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-7800.......................... fax (270) 842-7878 www.kapstonepaper.com

Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC — Page 29

525 Central Court Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-6492.......................... fax (270) 353-2172 Aluminum suspension for the automobile industry.

Lord Corporation — Page 30

Insurance

State Farm Agent Patricia Dillard — Page 17

General Motors — Page 32

International Paper — Page 37

Industrial Supply

HeathCo LLC — Page 36 Staybridge Suites — Dellisart, LLC Page 74

Manufacturing

111 Cosma Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 901-1555.......................... fax (270) 901-1393 gerri_bowers@cosma.com Bowling Green Metalforming is a “World Class” manufacturer of automotive frame and chassis systems, primarily selling to OEMs of cars and light trucks, located in Canada and the United States.

2800 Pioneer Drive PO Box 8500 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-5440.......................... fax (270) 842-1358 www.lord.com Our team-based workforce of more than 220 employees produce high-quality bonded elastomer assemblies that manage shock, vibration, noise and motion for equipment and the transportation industries.

M & L Electrical Inc. M & L Technical Systems CGS Machine & Tool, Inc. — Inside Front Cover

2750 Griffin Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 783-3589.......................... fax (270) 783-4237 steve@cgsmachine.com www.cgsmachine.com • Tool and Die • Conventional Machining • CNC Turning • CNC Milling • Wire EDM • Fabricating/Certified Welders • Special Machine Building • 2 Shifts • 24-Hour Emergency Service

Country Oven Bakery — Page 17

2840 Pioneer Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 793-5608.......................... fax (270) 782-7170 Established in 1981, a producer of the highest-quality iced cakes, baked cakes, and frozen dough products for in-store bakeries.

6060 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-0123.......................... fax (270) 782-9643 www.mlelectrical.com Design-build electrical and alarm/communications systems contractor serving the needs of commercial and industrial customers since 1975. Whether your project involves new construction or expansion, we will execute your project from concept through completion.

Machined Ceramics, Inc.

629 N. Graham St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-0512.......................... fax (270) 781-9361 machinedceramics@insightbb.com www.machinedceramics.com Machined Ceramics is a precision ceramic machining facility. Industrial ceramics are used for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, communications, aerospace, medical and automotive applications.

Fruit of The Loom, Inc. — Page 19

One Fruit of The Loom Drive Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-6400.......................... fax (270) 438-1155 www.fruit.com Fruit of the Loom is a leading international, vertically integrated basic apparel company. The company manufactures underwear, casualwear, childrenswear, and printable tees and fleece for the activewear industry, as well as athletic gear. An independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway, Inc.

SCA Personal Care — Page 29

7030 Louisville Road Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 796-9300.......................... fax (270) 796-3181 www.sca.com SCA is a global hygiene and paper company that produces personal care products, tissue, publication papers and solid-wood products. At the beginning of 2012, SCA had approximately 32,000 employees.

www.bgchamber.com

index of advertisers Oil / Gas Exploration

Powder Coating

5557 Nashville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 495-3970.......................... fax (270) 782-9237 david_hamilton@victortechnologies.com www.victortechnologies.com Since 1921 Stoody has been the world leader in the development and application of hardfacing and specialty welding alloys for corrosion, abrasion and wear resistance.

Marketing Strategies Robin H. Harden — Page 70

1945 Scottsville Road B2-345 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (606) 309-3407.......................... fax (270) 782-0222 robinharden@gmail.com Company, Business, Individual and Personal Clients; Rebrand and Realign Marketing; strategies with minimum cost on your budget; assist in short- or long-term realistic goals; provide options for your achievement; whole package concepts; Out of the Ordinary Think Tank!

Music

Royal Music Co., Inc. — Page 70

830 Fairview Ave., Suite B1 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-9435.......................... fax (270) 842-9436 www.royalmusic.biz Royal Music has served families in Kentucky for 65 years. Through our experienced staff, our mission is to provide quality instruments, music, lessons and service to the people of our area.

Nonprofit Organizations

Recruiting Marshall Recruiting & Relocation, LLC

Stoody — Page 30

S & K Powder Coating

Encore Energy

830 Fairview Ave., Suite D2 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-1242 steve.stengell@encore-energy.com www.encore-energy.com Encore Energy is an experienced oil and natural gas operator that specializes in lease acquisition throughout the domestic U.S.

Oral / Maxillofacial surgeons Dr. Jerry Cohron

948 Elm St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-0698.......................... fax (270) 745-0067 We accept Medicaid and most Dental Insurance plans. Visa, Mastercard and Discover accepted. Financing through Carecredit and Chase Healthcare. Same-day or next-day appointments.

Southern Kentucky Oral Surgery Associates 1938 Lyda Avenue, Bowling Green 1214 N. Race St., Glasgow 1300 Bluegrass Road, Suite 7, Franklin (270) 783-0064, (270) 629-3040, (270) 586-5445 www.omsbg.com Our Oral Surgery practice is the leading resource for patients in need of dental implants, extractions including wisdom teeth, orthodontic-related jaw surgery, and the diagnosis and treatment of pathology.

Paint PPG Porter Paint

1495 Campbell Lane Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-3560.......................... fax (270) 796-2937 Painting Green with PPG. Improving both outdoor and indoor air quality is a key component of PPG. We are committed to providing a broad range of paint products with zero — or low — VOCs.

2859 Fitzgerald Industrial Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 746-9607 steve@cgsmachine.com • Hand Rails • Automotive & Motorcycle Components • Building & Architectural Hardware • Wrought Iron & Related Furniture • Store & Restaurant Fixtures • Farm Implements • Electrical Enclosures • Industrial Applications

Real Estate

Jim Bullington Realtor RE/MAX Real Estate Executives — Page 52 2501 Crossings Blvd., Suite 209 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-6000.......................... fax (270) 467-0734 jimbullington@remax.net www.jamesbullington.com With 30 years as a professional in real estate, Jim knows real estate inside and out, and he knows how to match the right buyer to the property. Just ask his satisfied clients.

Coldwell Banker Legacy Real Estate Group Verice cell (270) 791-4930 Gene cell (270) 791-8402 Toll-free (800) 543-2083 ext. 119 vericeandgene@coldwellbanker.com www.vericeandgene.com The Animal Lover’s Real Estate Professionals, The “2 for 1” Team, are multi-million dollar producers specializing in homes, homes with acreage, farms, and land. Let our experience go to work for you!

PO Box 50392 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 799-3737 marshallrelocating@gmail.com Provides furnished rentals for short-term needs. Relocation packages designed to suit and completely turn-key. We have houses, apartments and townhouses in Warren County and surrounding area.

Recycling Centers

Shelby Recycling

330 Power St. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 846-0689.......................... fax (270) 846-0681 shelbyrecycling@aol.com Family, locally-owned and operated. Paying top prices for your metal recyclables and vehicles. Certified scales. 100% concreted facility. WHERE A POUND IS A POUND!

Southern Recycling

620 Clay St. Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 781-3265.......................... fax (270) 842-8301 Providing a conscious community with a curbside recycling program. Keeping our communities cleaner and reducing waste while teaching the next generation the value of recycling for a cleaner home, a cleaner community.

Restaurants

Petroleum Distributor Hosparus-Barren River

101 Riverwood Ave., Suite B Bowling Green, KY 42103 (507) 719-8925 ssmith@hosparus.org Hosparus Barren River provides care, comfort and counseling to patients and families facing the end of life, regardless of their ability to pay.

Buckhead Cafe & Bakery — Page

Valor Oil Company

407 Raven Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-0361.......................... fax (270) 993-2289 www.valoroil.com Valor Oil is a full-line petroleum distributor providing lubricants and fuel to service stations, convenience stores, commercial, industrial, mining and farming operations in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. Valor blends and distributes racing fuel nationwide. We began manufacturing Diesel Exhaust Fluid to meet new regulations. We are working hard to keep your world running.

Neal Turner Realty

1401 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-8000.......................... fax (270) 781-7849 alex@ntrcommercial.com www.ntrcommercial.som South Central Kentucky’s top-producing commercial real estate brokerage firm with over 75 years of combined experience. Specializing in industrial, retail, office, land and investment real estate.

760 Campbell Lane Buckhead Square PO Box 1802 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 846-0110 www.buckheadcafe.net Buckhead Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant in popular Buckhead Square. The menu includes pizzas and wraps from the wood-fired oven, panini sandwiches, burgers, fresh salads, and delicious homemade desserts.

Physicians / Surgeons Potter Children’s Home & Family Ministries

2350 Nashville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 843-3038.......................... fax (888) 519-6176 ron@potterministries.org www.potterministries.org Potter Children’s Home & Family Ministries have been serving at-risk children and single-parent families since 1914. Please visit our website www.potterministries.org for further information about Potter Children’s Home.

President’s Club - Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce — Page 2

710 College St. PO Box 51 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 751-3200.......................... fax (270) 843-0458 www.bgchamber.com The President’s Club was formed in 1998 to recognize Chamber partners who generously contribute to the economic development efforts of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

Occupational Screening Occupational Screening & Health Associate — Page 57

1111 Lovers Lane Suite 101 Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 746-0505.......................... fax (270) 746-0501 gail_mcguffey@bellsouth.net • Drug Test • Breath Alcohol Test • Physicals • Third Party Administrator • Random Pulls • DNA’s • Background Checks

Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet Western KY Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates — Page 55

165 Natchez Trace, Suite 100 Bowling Green, KY 42103 270-782-7800............................ fax (270) 843-0779 mboard@wkona.net www.wlona.net Western Kentucky Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates offers MRI and physical and occupational therapy in a state-of-the-art facility. All physicians are board certified and specialize in Total Joint Replacement, Spinal Surgery, Hand Surgery, Neuralgia and Arthroscopic Surgery.

Jane Safford Realtor RE/MAX Real Estate Executives

2501 Crossings Blvd., Suite 200 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 792-8249 jesafford@aol.com www.janesafford.com • Service is the difference • Specializing in family relocation • Selling single-family homes, condos, new construction and building lots. • Check out my website at www.JaneSafford.com • RE/MAX HALL OF FAME

Lost River Pizza Company

Plumbing / Lighting Weichert Realtors® / The Hunt Group — Page 1

Brock McVey Co. of Bowling Green — Page 52

943 Lovers Lane Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 782-0484.......................... fax (270) 782-0496 www.brockmcvey.com The source for all your: • Appliances • Refrigeration • Lighting • Ice Machines • Plumbing • And More...

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

600 U.S. 31-W Bypass, Suite 1-A Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 904-6886 Home of Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine. We are the largest and most elegant buffet in Bowling Green and surrounding area. Perfect place to have a quick lunch or relaxing dinner. We can accommodate parties of any size.

1053A Lovers Lane Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 745-9900.......................... fax (270) 843-8287 www.wrhuntgroup.com A family tradition of excellence in auctions, residential and commercial real estate. Our team of Realtors® are dedicated to premium customer service.

2440 Nashville Road, Suites 106 & 107 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 746-0255.......................... fax (270) 746-0254 keith.coffman@lostriverpizza.com www.lostriverpizza.com Independent, Artisan Pizza Restaurant with a Full Bar Featuring Award-Winning Pizza, 30 Craft Beers on Tap and An Upscale Atmosphere. Dine In, Carry Out and Catering Available.

index of advertisers Retail / Visitor Information

Telecommunications Comstar Systems — Page 33

The District, d.r.a. — Page 17 Mariah’s Restaurant — Page 4

Downtown Historic Bowling Green PO Box 1802 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 842-6878.......................... fax (270) 781-0498 www.Mariahs.com Mariah’s is located downtown in Bowling Green’s oldest brick home. Casual atmosphere and dining featuring wood-fired brick oven, fresh salads, delicious sandwiches, hand-cut steaks, and homemade desserts.

601 State St. PO Box 32 Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 782-0222.......................... fax (270) 782-5529 Mainstreet mainstreet@downtownbg.org www.downtownbg.org The District, dba of Downtown Redevelopment Authority, 501c3 nonprofit promotes Bowling Green, follows The Main Street nationwide program, provides free public downtown events, services The District area.

Services - Customer

944 Searcy Way Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 781-7076.......................... fax (270) 782-6076 comstar@bellsouth.net www.comstarsystems.com • Access Control • Cable TV • Closed-Circuit TV • Fire Alarm • Fire Extinguishers • Kitchen Hood Systems • Master Clocks • Computer Networks • Nurse Call • Public Access • Pro Sound • Telephone • Video • Data • Media Management

Transportation

Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. — Page 24

951 Fairview Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 842-5214.......................... fax (270) 781-3299 www.wrecc.com District offices in Bowling Green, Franklin, Leitchfield and Morgantown. For over 75 years, Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, a member-owned utility, has been dedicated to improving the quality of life of its over 60,000 member-owners.

Veterinarians

FedEx Ground & Home Delivery 155 Flex Park Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-6480 nathan.spence@fedex.com

Mellow Mushroom

1035 Chestnut St. PO Box 1396 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 393-1800 bowlinggreen@mellowmushroominfo.com Our mission is to provide delicious food in a fun and creative environment. We are the originators of Classic Southern Pizza, and our unique and flavorful crust is a true original.

Retail Aqua Land Pool, Spa & Patio

1260 Campbell Lane Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 842-8981.......................... fax (270) 781-5655 chris@aqualand-pools.com www.aqualand-pools.com AquaLand Pool, Spa & Patio has been South Central Kentucky’s premier dealer of premium pools and spas for over 25 years. YOUR FUN IS OUR BUSINESS.

Batteries Plus

1150 U.S. 31-W By Pass Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 393-8880.......................... fax (270) 393-8882 bp015@batteriesplus.net www.batteriesplus.com America’s Battery Experts for: • Emergency Lighting • Laptop • Keyless Entry • UPS Backup System • Cell/Cordless Phone • Camera & Video • Auto/Truck • And Much More! Monday-Friday 7:30 – 7:30 Saturday 8:00 – 5:00

Nat’s Outdoor Sports

1121 Wilkinson Trace Bowling Green, KY 42103 (270) 842-6211.......................... fax (270) 782-6582 www.natsoutdoorcom Established in 1973, Nat’s Outdoor Sports is the premier Outdoor Retailer in this area. Nat’s carries your favorite apparel and equipment from The North Face, Patagonia, Trek, Life is Good, Mountain Hardwear, Brighton, Columbia and many more ...

Nutrition Center Health Food Store

715 U.S. 31 W Bypass Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 846-1882 nutritioncenter4@bellsouth.net www.nutritioncenter4.com The area’s premier health food store, featuring top-selling name brand supplements and food as well as local products. Locally owned and operated with knowledgeable, friendly staff. Certified Natural Health Professional on site. Find us on Facebook.

PSC Metals, Inc.

125 Kelly Court Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-3765.......................... fax (270) 796-2766 rwillmore@pscmetals.com www.pscmetals.com PSC Metals is one of North America’s premier ferrous and non-ferrous scrap processors. With over a century of industry-leading performance, we offer full-service processing of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Services - Transportation

Timesavers Concierge & Chauffeur — Page 8

PO Box 389 Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 792-5703 timesaversky@gmail.com www.mytimesavers.net Timesavers provides executive and private airport transportation, chauffeur service, corporate assistance and private aviation concierge, courier service, errands, shopping, non-medical in-home caregiving, home companion, home organization, downsizing, and moving preparations.

Shopping Mall Greenwood Mall — Page 19

2625 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 782-9048.......................... fax (270) 782-9125 www.ggp.com Shop one of Greenwood Mall’s four department stores and over 100 specialty shops. Enjoy a quick bite in our family-friendly food court. Visit us online at www.greenwoodmall.com.

Stone Products

Cavalier Stone Products — Page 49

1500 Louisville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-0006 www.cavalierstoneproducts.com Cavalier Stone Products has been manufacturing the highest-quality cast stone products available for almost four decades and are continually developing new and innovative products. Exceeding expectations is our commitment.

Transportation - Limousine

Party 1 Limousine — Page 70

2460 Shamrock Drive Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 202-1559 www.party1limo.com Serves the Southern Kentucky and Tennessee areas and offers multiple levels of service to assist with transportation needs. Airport transportation, Limousine, SUV, Wedding, Party, Executive Transportation, and moving small or large groups between locations.

Utilities

Atmos Energy Corporation

2850 Russellville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 901-1701.......................... fax (270) 782-6271 www.atmosenergy.com Atmos Energy is recognized as one of the most efficient and reliable natural gas companies in Kentucky. Our emphasis on customer service is one of the primary reasons over 170,000 customers in 37 counties are satisfied natural gas customers today.

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities — Page 22

801 Center St. Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 782-4537.......................... fax (270) 782-4320 www.bgmu.com Bowling Green Municipal Utilities is your hometown utility, providing water, wastewater treatment, electric and commercial high-speed data services to our community.

Tennessee Valley Authority

6045 Russellville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101-7319 (270) 846-7040.......................... fax (270) 846-7045 www.tva.com Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federal corporation, the nation’s largest public power provider, a steward of the Tennessee River basin, a national center for environmental research, and an economic development agency for parts of seven states.

Westgate Veterinary Hospital

2010 Russellville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 782-1644.......................... fax (270) 782-8451 westgatevet@aol.com Practice limited to Companion Animals. Laser Surgery, Dentistry, Vaccinations, Boarding, Hospitalization, In Office Lab. We carry Hills Science Diet Pet Food. Telephone answered 24 Hours in Emergency. 270-782-1644

Visitor Information Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau — Page 75

352 Three Springs Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 782-0800.......................... fax (270) 842-2104 www.visitbgky.com Staffed information center with maps and brochures. Gift Shop with Bowling Green souvenirs and Kentucky-made products. Convention services available: registration assistance, name tags, welcome bags, VIP gifts.

Warehousing & Storage

Scotty’s Development Company

Scotty’s Warehousing & Distribution 7030 Louisville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 842-8123.......................... fax (270) 842-8492 www.scottyswarehouse.com Your total Warehousing and Distribution Solution. Public and contract heated warehousing. Food grade storage. Electronic security. Pick and pack service. Inventory control/EDI. Container loading and unloading. Build to suit/lease to own.

Waste Management

Scott Waste Services, LLC — Page 25

1212 Eastland St. Bowling Green, KY 42102 (270) 783-4016.......................... fax (270) 842-8198 www.scottwaste.com Providing residential, commercial, construction and industrial solid waste hauling services. Exclusive residential waste service provider for the City of Bowling Green.

Storage US Warehousing, Inc. — Page 28

1945 Scottsville Road Suite B2-359 Bowling Green, KY 42104 (270) 781-9999.......................... fax (270) 781-8888 www.uswarehousing.com US Warehousing is a full-service warehouse and distribution operation with multiple locations in the Bowling Green Area.

Warren County Water District — Page 24

523 U.S. Highway 31 W Bypass PO Box 10180 Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-842-0052 ........................... fax (270) 842-8360 www.warrenwater.com Warren Water plays a vital role in our growing community, by providing high-quality water service and reliable wastewater service at affordable costs to over 25,000 customers throughout Warren County.