Communities around Fort Knox have launched a capital campaign to help grow the Hardin County army post and the regional economy.
A new partnership called the Knox Regional Development Alliance was announced Thursday in Elizabethtown. Co-chairman Ray Springsteen said part of the goal is to bring new missions to the post and retain existing ones.
"A few years ago, we certainly had some contraction in the military, and in some cases, this is driven by that," Springsteen told WKU Public Radio. "Instead of us reacting when there's a problem, someone is getting up every day, going out, and finding ways to protect this incredible asset."
Another goal of the alliance is to attract and retain military-related businesses to Hardin, Meade, Larue, Bullitt, and Jefferson counties.The alliance is halfway toward its goal of raising $2.5 million by the end of the year. The campaign is looking for public and private sector donations.
KRDA is the result of a merger between the CORE Committee, Inc. and the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce's One Knox Council.
