Kyndle – the Kentucky Network for Development, Leadership and Engagement – provides economic development and industrial recruitment leadership for the citizens, businesses and governments of Henderson, McLean, Union and Webster counties in Northwest Kentucky. Kyndle also serves as the chamber of commerce for Henderson County while supporting the efforts of other area chambers. Kyndle’s focus is on the growth and prosperity of the region and its people.

Economic Development2015 End of Year Report

Pittsburg Tank & Tower celebrated the groundbreaking of an expansion at its existing headquarters in Henderson.

Pictured from left are Suze Oliver, Ben Johnston, Levi Johnston, Don Johnston, Chris Johnston, Donald Johnston and Denise Johnston, all members of the

ownership family.

Hood Harris, President of AT&T Kentucky, is joined by Kyndle CEO

Brad Schneider and representatives of the four county region to announce the

AT&T Fiber Ready designation for 4 Star Industrial Park.

2015 business attraction outreach activity included direct marketing and visits with site consultants, monthly newsletters, trade show attendance, marketing trip and Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development project manager meetings.

Site consultants• Kyndle’s economic development team attended eight site consultant eventsin six different markets including Dallas, Chicago(3), Las Vegas, Atlanta, Hopkinsville and Richmond KY. • Monthly site consultant newsletter was sent to over 800 site consultantsdiscussing current events in our region as well as featured available properties.

Trade shows attended• Medical Design & Manufacturing Show (MD&M) in Anaheim, CA - theworld’s largest medical technology design and manufacturing event. Five other trade shows held in conjunction with MD&M: Automation Technology (ATX), Electronics West, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, Plastec West. • SelectUSA in Washington DC – Kyndle partnered with the KentuckyEconomic Development Council to staff a booth at SelectUSA, a federallevel event designed to showcase the United States as the world’s premier business location and to provide easy access to federal-level programs and services related to business investment• International Food Trade Show in Chicago• AutoVision 2015 – Kentucky’s first trade show designed to showcase theState’s automotive industry• Pack Expo, Las Vegas• Fabtech, Chicago

Marketing trip• Dallas – met with four companies that expressed interest in learning moreabout the opportunities of doing business in Kentucky.

Economic Development by the Numbers

2015 Announced Projects

Regional Job FairA regional job fair was held on January 29, 2015 as a result of Patriot Coal Corp. issuing a layoff notice to about 670 employees at the Highland mining complex near Waverly and the Dodge Hill mining complex near Sturgis. Forty regional employers turned out to speak with hundreds of job seekers at this well-attended job fair held at Henderson Community College.

KCED Staff VisitsKyndle visited with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED) staff twice during 2015. The first meeting was to update project managers on improvements made to existing buildings or industrial properties as well as inform them of new properties that had become available. Greg Pritchett, director of the Henderson Riverport Authority, joined us on the second visit to discuss opportunities at the Henderson Riverport Industrial Park.

Economic Development 101Kyndle hosted an ED101 seminar in January for those interested in learning more about how economic development works at the local and state levels. Presenters included Kyndle CEO Brad Schneider, Kentucky Association of Economic Development Director Hal Goode, Kentucky Cabinet for Ecnomic Development Deputy Commissioner John Bevington and other key experts.

2015Kyndle tracks two key metrics to measure the success of our economic developments efforts - new jobs we helped create and capital investment associated with those jobs. We only count jobs we help recruit to the area, jobs created when we help an existing company expand, or jobs saved when we help a company stay here when they otherwise may have moved. Kyndle's assistance may come in several forms, including securing state or local financial aid or incentives, finding a building or site, navigating the codes/zoning/permitting process, or job fairs. And we count the jobs and investment only after a company has announced them publicly. The numbers for 2015 were:

Total jobs announced - 454Total investment announced - 76.2 million

2011 - 2015In 2011, as part of its Opportunity 2016 capital campaign, Northwest Kentucky Forward (now Kyndle) set goals of 2,000 new jobs and $150 million in investment for the five years in which investors were asked to support local economic development efforts. The campaign officially ends June 30, 2016. Here's where Kyndle stands in reaching those five-year goals:

Total jobs announced - 2,066Total investment announced - $212 million

Chris Graves, V.P. of Operations for Tyson Foods, announces that the company will expand at its Robards facility, creating 91 new jobs and invest $8.25 million to upgrade equipment and add processing capacity.

Chamber of Commerce 2015 End of Year Report

Kyndle is the chamber of commerce of Henderson County and partners with the chambers in Union, Webster and McLean counties on projects and issues of mutual interest. Kyndle's Commerce Council oversees Kyndle's chamber activities, which are guided by the work of the Government Affairs, Agriculture, Education/Workforce, Taking Care of Business, Industrial Liaison and Ambassador committees. Highlights of their work in 2015 included:

Services:• Kyndle hosted its second annual Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, a month-long instructional program for thoseinterested in starting or expanding small businesses. The camp culminated in the Fire Pit Pitch contest, modeled after the ABC TV show "Shark Tank." • Kyndle continues to service as a satellite location for Murray State University's Small Business Development Centerand the Kentucky Innovation Network, which provide free entrepreneurship coaching and support.    • Kyndle and One Life Church hosted the second annual Kyndle Leadership Series, which included seminars onBusiness Leadership and NonProfit Leadership. More than 125 participants registered. The Community Foundation of Henderson organized the program for the nonprofit seminar. • Kyndle held numerous ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings to help businesses celebrate and promote grand

openings, new construction, new membership in Kyndle, or other milestones.

Advocacy:• After many years helping lead the charge for the creation of Interstate 69 in Kentucky, Kyndle helped celebrate inNovember the conversion of 42 miles of the Pennyrile Parkway as I-69. Two-thirds of the corridor in Kentucky has now been designated as interstate, and Kyndle continues to play a lead role in pushing for the completion of the I-69 project, including the building of its Ohio River bridge.   

Information:• Kyndle held over 13 topic-oriented breakfasts and lunches for stakeholders. Featured speakers in 2015were Warren Beeler, director of Ag Policy for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association; Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor of the City of Evansville; Mike Hancock, Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet; Scott Wylie, director of the Vanderburgh Community Foundation;  Steve Chandler, owner of ChandlerThinks; David Adkisson, CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; David Matthews, owner of David Matthews Associates; Steve Austin, Mayor of the City of Henderson; Hugh McCormick, Henderson County Judge-Executive; state representatives Dr. David Watkins, Jim Gooch and Suzanne Miles, and state senators Dorsey Ridley and Joe Bowen.  • Kyndle hosted 16 Brown Bag Series lectures on issues and items important to stakeholders, including mediarelations strategies, use of drones in small business, local holiday shopping options, credit card security chips, top ten IT mistakes and facilitative leadership• Kyndle helped produce four issues of the Henderson Business Magazine, 12 Gleaner Business Spotlight pages, 52weekly e-newsletters and 52 Kyndle Connection radio shows on WSON to highlight stakeholder news, events and awards. • Kyndle CEO Brad Schneider launched a weekly blog, 10 Things I Think You Need to Know, designed to highlightnews, anecdotes and insights he belives will be of interest to stakeholders.• Kyndle's website, www.kyndle.us, had 17,490 visits in 2015 and was named the state's best in its class by theKentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Mark Weaver of Weaver, Dalton & Associates leads a panel discussion at the Kyndle leadership nonprofit seminar

• As part of BridgeLink and Chamber Leadership Initiatives for Northwest Kentucky (C-LINK), Kyndle participated inmeetings with gubernatorial candidates Matt Bevin and Jack Conway to update them on I-69 and other topics of regional interest. • Kyndle, in partnership with the Downtown Henderson Partnership and Henderson Tourism Commission,successfully advocated to update an antiquated Henderson city alcohol ordinance. The change could lead to an increase in the number of events or festivals held downtown. • Kyndle helped advocate for the passage of a local measure that will bolster Henderson County Public Schools'ability to replace, repair and renovate aging infrastructure over the next 20 years and continue to offer students a first-class educational experience. • Kyndle's Farm to Table dinner, designed to promote awareness of the Henderson County Farmer's Market and theimportance of agriculture in our regional economy, sold out for the third straight year.• Kyndle celebrated excellence in our communities by holding several awards events, including the new Nonprofit ofthe Year Award breakfast.• The Henderson County chapter of Imagination Library, administered and funded by the Kyndle EducationFoundation, surpassed the 1,000 mark in number of children enrolled. Imagination Library encourages love of reading by offering age-appropriate books to kids ages 0 to 5 regardless of their families' means.

• Total Stakeholders: 637• Brown Bag Series lectures: 16• Networking events: 19• Ribbon Cuttings/Groundbreakings: 18

• Years serving as the chamber of commerce for Henderson County: 99Award and Contest Winners:• Agriculture Awards: Agriculturalist  of the Year, Craig Gibson;Lifetime Achievement in Agriculture, David Alexander• Distinguished Citizens of the Year: Chuck and Donna Stinnett• Educator of the Year: Emily Johnston West• Ambassador of the Year:  Susan Sauls• Nonprofit Awards: Nonprofit of the Year,  Matthew 25; Volunteers of the Year: Debbie Edwards, St. Anthony'sHospice (Henderson County); Rev. Jerry and Janette Manning, St. Anthony's Hospice (Union County); James "Chip" Palmer, Providence Community Food Bank (Webster County); and Patty Jefferies, Girl Scouts of America (McLean County)• Fire Pit Pitch Contest - Jean Carver with ReadingWorks• Industry of the Year -  Pittsburg Tank and Tower• Small Business of the Year: Branson Surveys Inc (0-10 Employees) and Colonial Assisted and Independent

Kyndle by the Numbers:

• Gift Certficate Sales: Over $50,000

Thank youPolicy Board, Council and Committee Members

Policy Board 2016 Garland Certain, United Community Bank, ChairDr. Kris Williams, Henderson Community College, Vice Chair Rick Tappan, Dempewolf FordScott Davis, Field & Main Bank, Treasurer Jim Townsend, Webster County Judge Executive Eddie Melton, Melton Farms Joel Hopper, BrenntagDavid Scott Lin Shannon, Fine & Hatfield

Commerce Council 2016 Brent Bridges, Methodist Hospital, ChairBob McIndoo, Windmere FarmsCary Hicks, McLean County Extension Office Cory Bridges, Independence BankDavid McGan, McGan Business Solutions David Salisbury, Henderson Church of Christ Holly Dixon, Bent Creek Golf Community Janet Hortin, JD ByriderJulie Wischer, Henderson County SchoolsDr. Kate Baker, Baker Chiropractic Evan Dixon, Field & Main BankLisa Leslie, Old National BankMark Moser, E&M Heating & Air Conditioning Michael Hunt, Sacramento Deposit Bank Mike Freels, Murray State UniversityTravis Girten, Harding & Shymanski & Co. Monte Davenport, Independence BankNyra Syers-Ford, Earle C. Clements Job Corps Gary Dennis, Ramada Hotel & Conference Center Logan Tompkins, Tompkins Hauling & Excavating

Economic Development Council 2016 Debbie Gray, LGE-KU, ChairDavid Hamilton, Kenergy Corp., Vice Chair Bill Latta, Latta InsuranceJim Davis, Independence BankSharla Austin, Big Rivers Electric Corp. Greg Pritchett, Henderson County Riverport Curt Hamilton, Curt Hamilton Injury Law Joe Milazzo, Henderson Community College Eric Coffman, Tyson FoodsAimee Newberry, McLean County Public LibraryGarrick Thompson, Union County First Mike Obert, Old National BankMike Farris Wade Williams, Williams Farms/Home Center Jim Crouse, Webster Co. EDC Paul Bird, Henderson Insurance Servcies Mike Vickers, American Engineers, Inc.

Committee Chairs 2016 Ag Committee: Stacy Denton, Blue Moon Stables

Government Affairs Committee: Cyndee Burton, Matthew 25

Education/Workforce Committee: Julie Wischer, Henderson County Schools

Ambassador Committee:Janet Hortin, JD Byrider

Taking Care of Business Committtee: Dave McGan, McGan Business Solutions

Industrial Liaison Committee: Jim Butkus, Audubon Metals

Large Investor Council 2016 Doug Bell, Field & Main Bank, ChairKim Humphrey, River View Coal , Vice ChairBob Berry, Big Rivers CorporationBruce Begley, Methodist HospitaletButch Branson, LE2,LLC Butch Puttman, Henderson County Fiscal Court Clay Troutman, McLean County Fiscal Court Dorsey Ridley, Independence Bank George Phillips, Brenntag Hugh McCormick, Henderson County Judge Executive Jerri Floyd, Union County Fiscal Court Jim Townsend, Webster County Judge Executive Jody Jenkins, Union County Judge Executive Karen Cecil, Century Aluminum - Sebree Keith Schultheis, Audubon Metals Kelly Thurman, McLean County Judge Executive Michael Roane, Fifth Third Bank Steve Austin, Mayor - City of HendersonSteve Whitsell, Webster County EDCTammy Konsler, Henderson Municipal Power & Light Tommy Dempewolf, Dempewolf Ford Tony Felker, Webster County Fiscal CourtTony Krampe, Old National Bank

Kyndle TeamBrad Schneider, CEODonna Crooks, V.P. of Economic Development Margaret Ridley, V.P. of Business Support John Mathias, Director of CommunicationsDonna Warren, Administrative Assistant/Event Coordinator Stephanie Lucas, Assistant BookkeeperShirley Pruitt, Account ManagerBetsy Wells-Jones, Northwest Kentucky Training Consortium

Kyndle offers sincere gratitude to the members of our Policy Board, councils and committees for all their hard work. We especially thank our Kyndle Ambassadors, volunteers who act as liaisons between our staff and stakeholders, help out at events and assist any time we need them. This year would not have been as successful without everyone’s hard work and dedication.