Although not identified by name, a recent meeting between officials in Lyon County and the office of Governor Ernie Fletcher, brought together a $400,000 loan package for the Cadiz firm, according to reports in that county’s newspaper, the Herald Ledger.
In attendance at the meeting was Christi Marksbury, executive assistant with the ag policy office, the newspaper said.
Representatives from Trigg County apparently were not present for the meeting and from questions directed to Trigg County officials, also were not aware of the impending move.
“Broadbent ham is certainly an icon in the community,” said Cadiz Mayor Lyn Bailey. “I take it with me when I go to Frankfort to KIA meetings. The PR that we get when we say ‘This comes from Trigg County’ is very important.”
Bailey said that Trigg County gave $7,500 to Broadbent and “had a lot to do” with lobbying for the $400,000 awarded from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. Lyon County contributed $5,000.
Efforts by Trigg County’s Industrial Authority planned for January may be too little, too late, according to reports from Lyon County. Apparently the country ham company – which has been an icon of Trigg County – has been considering relocating its operation to a site off Interstate 24 and U.S. 62 behind the Hucks Travel Center near exit 40, for a number of months.
Jim Moore, president of the Caldwell Lyon Partnership made an announcement at that group’s last meeting that funding had been approved for a company he referred to as “Project Bacon Bits”. He said the Partnership had been working with the Broadbent company for several months.
In an interview shortly after the funding was announced last week, Ronnie Drennan, owner of the company along with his wife Beth, said the funds would be used for construction for a new facility. He said a timetable for the new construction has not been set, but did confirm the company may be interested in the Lyon county site.
For the rest of this story, read this week's Cadiz Record.
