Local business and political leaders gathered for a community forum held Friday by the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. Vivek K. Sarin, interim secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, spoke about his efforts to support existing businesses and industry, and develop new business opportunities for Kentucky that drive job growth and improve lives.
Sarin told a crowded room at Friday’s forum that he came from the private sector and was not a politician by nature, but a businessman who was seeking more opportunities for Kentucky by meeting with different companies all over the world.
Sarin has traveled to countries like India, China, Korea and Japan — to name a few — in his efforts to bring new business opportunities to the state. When he was first appointed to the job, he viewed Kentucky’s economic situation as a crisis of sorts.
The secretary called himself one of many who was tired of seeing Kentucky 48th out of 50 on every national ranking of states. Past Kentucky administrations had sat at their desks for too long, he said, when creating jobs, growth and development was about taking the opposite approach — getting out there and creating partnerships.
“I looked at the state of Kentucky like taking over a distressed organization,” he said. “There was a lot of hemorrhaging occurring in different ways. The predecessors didn’t get out and build relationships. Business is a contact sport.”
The cabinet’s “Think Kentucky” campaign seeks to make business strong and cut red tape, Sarin said. States like Illinois, for example, make creating business exponentially difficult due to regulations. Still, 256 companies who operate in Kentucky don’t have corporate headquarters in this state, but in Illinois.
Sarin said his cabinet is working to sell Kentucky to more corporate leaders and convince them that this state is worth their entrepreneurial efforts.
According to Sarin, 66 percent of the cabinet’s efforts focus on keeping growing existing businesses in Kentucky while 34 percent is focused on bringing new business to the state.
World wide, Kentucky is known for fried chicken, bourbon and horse racing, Sarin said, but most people were completely unaware of the fact that Kentucky manufacturers more vehicles and aerospace equipment per capita than anywhere else in the world.
“Our number one job is to tell the story of Kentucky so we can get companies to see what they never have,” he said.
In bringing more business to Owensboro and Daviess County, Sarin encouraged local leaders to focus on creating strong partnerships, build regionalization with surrounding counties, and even with other states, and to develop a strategic, unique plan for the community.
Sarin went so far as to give every person in the room his private cell phone number and told them to call anytime for advice or assistance regarding the City and County’s economic development.
“Where do you want to be in 10 years? Are you thinking regionally? What’s your community’s niche? Is everyone working the plan?” he asked. “If we can play any role in helping you construct that, in helping you tell that story, we would love to engage with you to make that happen.”
