The Owensboro Magazine 2009

CONTENTS Owensboro 2009 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Kentucky’s “Festival City” offers events and attractions all year. An official publication of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Buffalo Trace brings histor y to Owensboro. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 First-time visitors to Owensboro may be surprised to ﬁnd a larger-than-life buffalo staring at them as they drive down Frederica Street. The animal is part of the Bronze Buffalo Trace, a long-term signature public art project of the Owensboro Public Art Commission. Environmental Education Blooms in the Garden . . . . . . . 10 The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden on Carter Road is a unique feature on Owensboro’s arts and culture scene and offers a unique and inviting venue for environmental education. Owensboro Arts and Cultural Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 EDUCATION Making the Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Owensboro and Daviess County are served by two award-winning public school districts, an outstanding catholic school system, and other independent religious and Montessori schools. Building Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Western Kentucky University building rising from the dirt in a ﬁeld off U.S. 231 is more than bricks and mortar. It’s opportunity. SPORTS & RECREATION In the Swim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Swimming is becoming more popular in Owensboro during the cold winter months, especially given the enormous success of Michael Phelps in the Olympics. COMMUNITY Economic Development through Placemaking . . . . . . . . . 24 Sister Cities brings International Beneﬁts . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The “Economic Development through Placemaking” initiative will help make Owensboro competitive in the race for talent and investment in the coming years. Today, Owensboro and Daviess County are home to thriving Sister Cities agreements with Olomouc, Czech Republic, and Nisshin, Japan, and a Sister Regions pact with Olomouc Kraj, Czech Republic. INDUSTRY Embracing Innovation to spur Economic Development . . . 28 Owensboro’s Emerging Ventures Center of Innovation enhances the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation’s industry recruitment efforts by focusing on growing jobs from within the community by assisting entrepreneurs with ﬁnancing and other startup issues. Creating a Pool of Skilled Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Horn Industrial Services in Owensboro has joined forces with the Green River Area Development District to alleviate mounting concerns regarding the pool of skilled construction workers needed to meet the challenges ahead in the construction industry. Expanding Transportation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Elected ofﬁcials and business leaders partnered to request Interstate spur designations for two local parkways to compliment existing rail, runway and river transportation infrastructure. One-Stop Business Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 4 Easy-to-follow information about starting or locating a business in Owensboro or Daviess County. OWENSBORO 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Owensboro Magazine 2009

The Owensboro 2009 From our Chair Contents Buffalo Trace Brings History to Owensboro Environmental Education Blooms in the Garden Owensboro Arts and Cultural Events Making the Grade Building Opportunity In the Swim Economic Development through Placemaking Sister Cities brings International Benefits Embracing Innovation to spur Economic Development Creating a Pool of Skilled Workers Expanding Transportation Options One-Stop Business Licensing Robot Doctor Building a Locally-Based Food Economy Welcome to the Neighborhood Luxury Living on the River Moving In Trendy Excursions Evolves with the Times The Crème Brews Comfort Downtown Growing with the Community Family Business Boasts Longevity, Good Barbecue Entrepreneurial Spirit Comes Home Capturing the Broadway Market Ministering to Church Leaders Community at-a-Glance By the Numbers Dining & Catering Guide Advertiser Index

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.