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Community PrioritiesOther PositionsBarkley Regional AirportDepartment of EnergyInfrastructure ss/CommerceThe Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is the region’s largest business advocacyorganization representing approximately 900 businesses and an estimated 30,000 employees.As an investor-driven organization, the Chamber serves as the VOICE of the business communityand presents a united effort on our community’s behalf.
KEY LOCAL PRIORITIESDepartment of Transportation – Federal Aviation Admin.New Terminal Project for Barkley Regional Airport:A groundbreaking is expected to be heldthis fall for the construction of a newterminal for Barkley Regional Airport.The Paducah-McCracken Countycommunity, the Paducah Chamber andthe four state region served by the airport are appreciative of the supportreceived from the Federal AviationAdministration to assist with funding thisproject. The assistance from FAA helpedlaunch our efforts to also secure fundingfrom the Commonwealth of Kentuckyand both the local city and countygovernments.Airport Improvement Program (AIP):We respectfully request the waivingof the 10,000-passenger minimumrequirement to receive entitlementfunds and that we be granted the full 1 million entitlement for FY ’22. Thiswould allow vital airfield work to beperformed including beginning designof the rehabilitation of our mainrunway and demolition of the currentterminal building, clearing the way forof future economic development.Essential Air Service (EAS)Funding: Supports full funding of theEAS program. This program hasprovided Western Kentucky aneconomically vital link to the NationalAir System (NAS) for over a decade.Before 2020, we were proudly hometo one of the ten lowest subsidies inthe program, a testament to itseffectiveness and importance. Duringthe pandemic, it became more vitalto us than ever before, by preventingthe interruption of commercial airservice from Paducah, which wouldhave severed this essentialconnection.2Artist renderings of new Barkley Regional Airport TerminalWe ask that the U.S. Department ofTransportation continue to fullyfund this critically importantprogram, to both facilitate regionalrecovery efforts and, in conjunctionwith the new terminal, providePaducah and the region a strongerfoundation for a successful future.Paducah Chamber 2021 Federal Priorities
KEY LOCAL PRIORITIESDepartment of EnergyTo advance the cleanup of the Paducah (KY) DOE site, we request a continuationof funding of approximately 315 million, which is equivalent funding from FY20and FY21.Agency Request: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Environmental Management Uranium Enrichment Decontamination andDecommissioning FundThe Paducah Chamber requests for FY 22: Approximately 315 million for the Paducah,Kentucky, DOE site, located in McCracken County,which is equivalent funding for the Paducah sitefrom FY20 and FY21. Funding would help fulfill theEnvironmental Management’s (EM) Strategic Visionto complete deactivation work at the C-333 ProcessBuilding, one of the four large process buildings atthe site. This funding will also facilitate dismantlingthe remaining switchyards, which could be recycledthrough Paducah Area Community ReuseOrganization (PACRO). 2 million in grant funding to prepare and betterunderstand our future plans and goals forreindustrialization of the entire site and for thePaducah community to be appropriately preparedto develop a plan for future re-industrial needs. Additionally, the Chamber supports funding tolaunch a depleted uranium disposal project as longas the funding is above our original request of 315million for fiscal year 2022 for the Paducah DOE site.Paducah Chamber 2021 Federal PrioritiesContractors at the Paducah DOE site participated ina pilot project in early 2021 for the first shipment ofsix (6) processed DUF6 oxide cylinders to anapproved disposal site via modified railcars anddetermined the viability and safety of the project.Currently, there are 3,800 cylinders converted andready for transport. Conversion and disposal of theapproximately 46,000 cylinders on site will be amultiple-decades-long project. The communitysupports beginning this project as a compliment tothe cleanup work currently on-going at the site.Finally, as contracts for the site are considered, weask for long term contracts to be awarded andexpectations of community support to a part of thecontract.Cleanup is now projected for 2065. Our communitycontinues to strive for completion before this date.The Paducah/McCracken County communityappreciates the continued support for the PaducahDepartment of Energy (DOE) site. We are especiallyappreciative of the increase in funding of 40million in FY 2020 and 42 million in FY 2021. Thisincreased spending level has allowed for more workto be accomplished as well as additional criticalinfrastructure needs at the site.3
Infrastructure InvestmentsThe Paducah Chamber urges the Kentucky federal delegation to continue long-term fundingsolutions to strengthen critical infrastructure for economic development, public safety andworkforce development.Having dependable infrastructure including air, roads, bridges, railways, waterways, broadbandand public transit systems, is critical to Kentucky’s economic vitality. Maintaining adequatefunding for transportation infrastructure remains an issue of concern at both the state andfederal levels of government.Inland WaterwaysInland waterways is a major component of the economy and employs thousands of workers fromPaducah, McCracken County and the surrounding area.The Paducah Chamber supports federal funding for critical water infrastructure improvements necessaryto promote inland waterway commerce; maximum additional funding for lock modernization; andopposes additional taxation, tolling, lockage fees or other changes for the users of the inland waterwaysystem; and supports Operations and Maintenance of the Inland Waterways Transportation Systemremain a fully Federal responsibility.Water Infrastructure Bill: Supports bipartisanefforts in Congress to appropriate 16.3 billion infunding for water infrastructure projects. Ourlevees, dams, inland waterways, and ports protecthundreds of communities, support millions ofAmerican jobs, and generate trillions of dollars ofeconomic activity. With at least 3 billion of the 16.3 billion provided for on-going and newconstruction on Inland Waterways projects.Kentucky Lock: Supports FY 2022 designation of 162.7 million for Kentucky Lock and Dam whichwill allow the exercising of options for theproject’s largest construction contract to date -Downstream Lock Monoliths. This includes aprovision, secured by Sen. Mitch McConnell,requiring the Sec. of the Army to expedite a newauthorization level of over 1.1 billion for theKentucky Lock project.Additional Fees: Opposes additional taxation,tolling, lockage fees or other changes for the usersof the inland waterways system; supportsOperations and Maintenance of the InlandWaterways Transportation System remain a fullyFederal responsibility.Invasive Carp Prevention and Control PilotProgram: Supports legislation authorizing 35 million for innovative projects andtechnologies that bolster the management,prevention, and eradication of InvasiveCarp. Moreover, the provision ensures thatat least five of these projects areundertaken in reservoirs like Kentucky Lakeand Lake Barkley.FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations:Supports appropriation of the full amountsupportable by the diesel fuel tax receiptsdeposited into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.The Inland Waterways User Board estimates thosereceipts to be 115 million and should be costshared at 65% general revenue and 35% InlandWaterways Trust Fund.4Paducah Chamber 2021 Federal Priorities
Infrastructure Investments (continued)Paducah-McCracken County RiverportGrant Funding for Bulk Cargoes: Supportsthe Paducah-McCracken County RiverportAuthority request for a federal grant fromthe Department of Transportation SmallPorts and Terminals Project in the amountof approximately 4 million. These fundswill modernize bulk commodity handlingequipment dating back to the 1960s thathave effectively reached their end-of lifecycle and as such cannot keep up withprojected future cargo activity. This projectwill benefit a four state region (KY-IL-TNMO) and support major infrastructureprojects currently underway by the ArmyCorps of Engineers.The City of Paducah and McCracken County have each pledged 100,000 towards matching funds for thegrant, signaling community support for the riverport investment.RailroadSupports increased federal funding for maintaining andimproving the safety of railroad infrastructure. Dedicatedresources for short line tracks and regional railroads arecritical for the sustainability and improvement of multimodal freight transportation in the greater Paducah area.Specifically, the Chamber supports the continuation of TheConsolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements(CRISI) grant program, RAISE and INFRA. These successfulprograms contribute to targeting emissions and congestionreduction by enhancing rail infrastructure.Crew sizes have always been and should continue to be handled as part of collective bargainingagreements and not a one-size-fits-all federal mandate. While safety is the top priority of the railroadindustry, there is no credible safety data to support the need for crew size mandates, which could impededevelopment and adoption of new safety technologies.Public TransitUrges Congress to remove the provision in the INVEST Act that would require Commercial Drivers Licenses(CDL) for drivers of vehicles designed to transport eight or more passengers. The majority of transitagencies in Kentucky, including the Paducah Area Transit System (PATS), are presently using non-CDLvehicles which hold between eight and 15 passengers. This would hinder the hiring process and forcetransit agencies to compete with other transportation companies for CDL licensed drivers.Paducah Chamber 2021 Federal Priorities5
BroadbandSupports tax exemptions to incentivize expanding andupgrading the nation’s wireless and wired broadbandnetworks, and/or broadband buildout grants to aidthe private sector in deploying last mile service tounserved areas, or both. In a 21st century globaleconomy, our telecommunications infrastructure iscrucial for both business and education industries.RAISE grantsSupports the continuation of the RAISE DiscretionaryGrant program, formerly known as BUILD/TIGERgrants. Paducah received a 10.4 billion BUILD grant in2019 to redevelop its riverfront and expand its port.The continuation of this program is very important toprovide funding for infrastructure projects.DOE Funding throughInfrastructure InvestmentsUrges Congress that if there is an increase ininfrastructure funding, a portion of the funding go tothe Department of Energy sites, including Paducah’ssite. The Paducah Chamber joins the City of Paducah,McCracken County, Greater Paducah EconomicDevelopment and Paducah Area Community ReuseOrganization (PACRO) in asking for this one-timeeconomic boost for the U.S. Department of Energy’s(DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM)program.Education and WorkforceHigher Education Act: Supports federal legislation,including reauthorization of the Higher Education Actto: Maintain and/or increase funding levels andmodernize Pell Grants to better serve today’s nontraditional, low income students and incentivizecompletion. Improve college access and affordability for allstudents. Increase accountability and transparency over federalfinancial aid and student loan programs.Postsecondary Education: Supports higher educationfunding for research and development grants, andfunding that promotes access for more students,regardless of socio-economic background, to attain ahigh-quality four-year degree.STEM/STEAM Funding: Supports preparing the nextgeneration to enter a globalized workforce that has anincreased focus on science, technology, engineering, andmath, together with art, that are critical to connectingbusinesses with qualified workers. Education andworkforce programs are vital to filling open positions.6Workforce Development Programs: Supportscontinued investments in workforce developmentand reform efforts aimed at improving alignment,flexibility and collaboration among public andprivate sector leaders to meet employer needs,including support for the Department of Labor’sproposal to create an industry-led apprenticeshipprogram and provide more flexibility and supportto employers for skills training.Financial Aid and Student Debt: Urges reformsto financial aid programs to improve access bysimplifying the FAFSA process and increaseaffordability while incentivizing outcomes.Congress must act to mitigate the negativeimpact of rising student debt on economicgrowth and entrepreneurship by ensuringborrowers have adequate flexibility to repayloans and by supporting business-led efforts toreduce educational debt. Policymakers shouldsupport employers seeking to help employeespay off student debt and develop continuingeducation and tuition compensation programs.Paducah Chamber 2021 Federal Priorities
Arts, Travel & TourismAs one of nine UNESCO Creative Cities in theU.S., Paducah offers a vibrant arts and culturescene, which generates 39.9 million in localeconomic activity. Paducah’s HistoricDowntown and Lower Town Arts Districtattract an excess of 500,000 patrons annually.The non-profit arts and culture industrysupports 819 full-time equivalent jobs,generates 17.7 million in household incometo local residents, and delivers 3.6 million inlocal and state government revenue.Arts Funding: Supports the continuation of grantsfunding that provides assistance to local culturalorganizations. Grants in our community from theNational Endowment for the Arts and the NationalEndowment for the Humanities have been awardedto West Kentucky Community & Technical College –School of Art and Design, Market House Theatreand the Hotel Metropolitan. These grants also helpour community to increase local support forcommunity projects. As a UNESCO Creative City,Paducah recognizes the value of arts and culture asan economic driver and leverages creativity for asustainable future in the arts, business andeducation. We recently met with Brent Leggs, aPaducah native and Executive Director of theAfrican American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, tohelp us tell our diverse Paducah story throughAfrican American historic places.International Travel: Supports the immediatedevelopment of clear, consistent and predictablestandards for reopening the U.S. to internationalvisitors. The roadmap should provide clearbenchmarks and timetables for lifting travel bansand pursue near-term opportunities like allowingfully vaccinated travelers from Canada, the UK andthe EU, to enter the U.S. As the home of theNational Quilt Museum of the United States, hostto the American Quilter’s Society’s InternationalQuilt Show in Paducah, and with the recentacquisition of a local paper mill by a Chinese firmand other internationally-owned companies in ourarea, it is very important that international travelto our country and our community be an easyprocess.Continued Federal Stimulus and Relief Measuresfor Destination Organizations: Encouragespolicymakers to support initiatives designed tohelp communities that rely on travel, tourism andthe arts recover more quickly, such as theHospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act(S. 477 / H.R. 1346). We applaud relief legislationsuch as the CARES Act and encouragepolicymakers to continue to make relief fundsavailable to destination organizationbusinesses112 until the COVID-19 crisis is fullybehind us.Business & CommerceInternational Trade: Supports fair and free tradepolicies that open markets abroad to Kentuckybusinesses and remove barriers that shut U.S.exports out of foreign markets. Additionally, wesupport the recapitalization of Brand USA throughthe Restoring Brand USA Act (S.2424 / H.R. 4594),which will help restore about 4.5 billion in travelexports.Paducah Chamber 2021 Federal PrioritiesOpportunity Zones and Similar Investment:Supports making permanent and expanding theNew Markets Tax Credit and finding ways toincentivize and encourage businesses alreadyexisting within Opportunity Zones to expand andinvest additional capital in those areas.7
In past years theAnnual DC Fly-In,coordinated by thePaducah Area Chamberof Commerce, hasinvolved approximately50 local citizens fromseveral West Kentuckycounties traveling to D.C.In 2020, when we couldnot travel to D.C.,more than 100 wereinvolved with avirtual format.Our philosophy is: “We never want it to be said in our stateor national capital that we are only noticed by our absence.We will be noted for our presence.”www.paducahchamber.orgFor more information, contact:Sandra Wilson, PresidentPaducah Area Chamber of Commerce300 S. Third St.Paducah, KY 42001swilson@paducahchamber.org270-443-1746
equipment dating back to the 1960s that have effectively reached their end-of life cycle and as such cannot keep up with projected future cargo activity. This project . upgrading the nation's wireless and wired broadband networks, and/or broadband buildout grants to aid the private sector in deploying last mile service to unserved areas, or .
