Carpenter receives 2015 ‘Visionary Award’

Corbin Economic Devlopment Director Bruce Carpenter, on right, receives the 2015 Visionary Award from last year’s recipient, State Senate President Robert Stivers.

About 150 people gathered Tuesday evening for a special banquet to honor Corbin’s Economic Development Director as the recipient of the Fifth Annual Daniel Boone “Visionary Award” — given each year to honor an outstanding citizen in the community.

Bruce Carpenter was selected to receive the award earlier this month by a special committee of The Mountain Laurel District of the Bluegrass Council of Boy Scouts. He joined prestigious company. Past recipients include: Forcht Group of Kentucky founder Terry Forcht, Former Congressional Aide Bob Mitchell, University of the Cumberlands President Dr. James Taylor and State Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester).

“I just feel so fortunate and honored to receive this award,” Carpenter told those gathered at the banquet in his honor, held at The Corbin Center for Technology and Community Activities. “I can assure you it’s not one that’s been accomplished just by myself.”

Carpenter assumed the role of Economic Development Director in 2006. In the position, he serves as the chief executive for two industrial park boards and the Corbin Industrial Development Commission. He’s also Executive Director of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

During his speech, he talked about two things that have been important to him since assuming his current position: fostering a sense of regional cooperation and mutual development, and youth workforce development programs.

Carpenter said after living for a time in northern Kentucky he learned the value of local governments and private entities working together with one another, across boundaries, to achieve success. Shortly thereafter, he led the charge to merge the separate chambers of commerce in Corbin and Williamsburg to create the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. He’s also attempted to get local city and county governments to work together more harmoniously to grow local economies.

“Any of you that have been in a meeting or event I’m involved in know I always talk about regionalization,” Carpenter said. “My experience in northern Kentucky made me realize we may not being doing this right in southern Kentucky … forgetting those boundaries; those city lines and county lines.”

“Now, we continually talk about making this a better area, not just a community but all of our communities becoming stronger,” he added. “That’s not been my vision necessarily, but one I’ve tried to carry on. I think that’s the only way we are going to survive.”

Carpenter has been instrumental in starting programs through the Chamber of Commerce aimed at promoting a good work ethic among the area’s youth.

He noted that the Work Ethic Seal Program is mandatory for sophomores at nearly all the area’s high schools, and pointed to Junior Achievement as a success story as well.

“We are investing in these young kids and hopefully we will be able to keep them in the area to continue their work path once they are out of school,” he said.

Carpenter also praised local elected officials, saying he’s been lucky they have been open minded and have always been receptive to ideas that could improve the economic and social well being of the area.

award. He was last year’s recipient. He noted many of Carpenter’s accomplishments, particularly in recent years, and said he’s always been a strong advocate for the area where he was born and raised.

“His vision is laced with loyalty,” Stivers said. “Loyalty to his region. Loyalty to these young men and women of this area to help them get the training, education and skills they need.”

The Daniel Boone “Visionary Award” is given every year to someone who embodies the values of the Boys Scouts of America. The event is a fundraiser for character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness programs for the Boy Scouts of America.

As Director of Economic Development, Carpenter has successfully secured significant grant funding for the development of the Tri-County Industrial Park and the Southeast Kentucky Regional Business Park, helped negotiate the location of KOWA Industries first North American facility in Corbin, led the effort to change Corbin to a fourth class city enabling passage of a local restaurant tax, initiated an effort to expand alcohol sales within the city of Corbin, and has been deeply involved in negotiations that will lead to the construction of a quarter horse racing facility in the Tri-County Industrial Park. He’s also been on the front lines, spearheading the effort on Right-To-Work legislation in Whitley County.

Forcht Bank Market President Michael Sharpe served as Master of Ceremonies and was himself honored by being inducted into the Mountain Laurel District Hall of Fame.

Joey Smith, a local Boy Scout, also spoke to the group about the importance of scouting in his own life.

Forcht Group of Kentucky and Baptist Health Corbin were major sponsors of the event.