MMRC to Erect $1.3 Million 'Spec' Building
From the Morehead News, December 20, 2011

By Keith Kappes - Publisher

Dec. 20, 2011 —     The Board of Directors of the John Will Stacy MMRC Regional Business Park is betting $1.3 million that another new employer can be lured to that facility on KY 801.

    That’s what it will cost to build a so-called “speculative” building with 48,320 square feet of floor space near the park’s front entrance on a site prepared several years ago.

    What is a speculative building and why is it needed?

    "When looking for a new location, most companies start their search looking for an existing building,” said Brett Traver, executive director of the Morehead–Rowan County Economic Development Council, Inc. (EDC). “This will be first time the MMRC park will have such a building to offer."

    In the parlance of economic development, a speculative or “spec” building is considered a calculated risk that has the potential of producing substantial return on investment, sort of like “build it and they will come.”

    In most cases, such facilities are used for the manufacture or distribution of goods.

    Rodney Hitch, Traver’s predecessor, started planning the building before taking another job in October.

“It was frustrating to have prospects who wanted an existing building much larger than we could make available,” he recalled. “I’m pleased that Brett finished the financing plan and that the MMRC board is going forward with this important project.”

    The new structure is configured to be expanded to nearly 100,000 square feet, if necessary. Designed by MSE of Kentucky, it will be constructed by the Walker Company of Mt. Sterling.

It is being financed with multiple state and federal sources through Kentucky's Department for Local Government, Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation and Gateway Area Development District.

Mike Helton, a Frenchburg banker, is chair of the MMRC board.

“The Morgan, Menifee and Rowan County Regional Industrial Authority gave this careful consideration before coming to this decision,” Helton said. “We believe this investment in the park gives us the best opportunity to create more employment opportunities for the people of this region.”

    Traver said he hopes the building can be completed as quickly as possible, hopefully as soon as next July.

With the earthwork at the site already done, actual erection of the steel frame building should start as soon as weather permits.

Through October, a total of 43 manufacturing, service and technology firms have located this year in Kentucky, agreeing to invest more than $500 million, according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

Traver said of the increased job development activity in the state:

"While Morehead and Rowan County will not be able to compete for all projects looking at Kentucky, this building will leave MMRC better positioned than we have been in the past."

Terry Ensor and Dr. Charles Derrickson, who represent Rowan County on the MMRC board, are

excited about the project.

    “Charlie and I are convinced that this is the right time to proceed and that we will have a good building to offer a new or expanding employer,” said Ensor.

    Other members of the MMRC board are Linda Bradley and Shayne Ison of Morgan County and Debbie Little of Menifee County.

    Morehead and Rowan County coordinate all economic development activities through the EDC which provides professional staff and other support to the MMRC and the Morehead-Rowan County Industrial Development Authority (IDA).

    EDC is a non-profit partnership of city and county government, Morehead Tourism Commission, Chamber of Commerce, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead State University and the Rowan Campus of Maysville Community and Technical College.

    Keith Kappes can be reached at kkappes@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.

 
Cracker Barrel on Track for February Opening
From the Morehead News, December 20, 2011

By Noelle Hunter - Staff Writer

Dec. 20, 2011 — If all goes as planned, a well-known restaurant’s signature hearth and fireplace will soon glow warm and bright.

The new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant is slated to open Feb. 13, according to corporate spokesperson Jeanne Ludington.

    The much-anticipated new dining option will likely be a treat for Valentine’s Day dining but also means jobs for more than 100 local residents, Ludington confirmed.

“We typically hire about 150 people,” said Ludington.

“Usually the hiring process starts about a month before we open. We will hang a banner on the store or place an employment advertisement telling people how and where to apply,” she added.

    In the meantime, the interior and exterior of the 8,630 square foot, $1.3 million restaurant are taking shape.  Inside, warm brown tile on the floor and rustic wooden walls and lattices give the dining area is signature design.

    The wood-burning fireplace and stone hearth feature prominently into the design.

“All Cracker Barrels have authentic wood-burning fireplaces,” said Rick Parsons, construction superintendent for Buffalo Construction, Inc. of Louisville.

    Parsons said his crew of 40 is currently working on rough installation and are on target for installing finishing touches.

    He said cooperation with the City of Morehead, local utility companies and businesses has helped his crew overcome some initial construction delays due to weather.

    “This is one of the wettest seasons on record in Kentucky,” Parsons said. “And I’ve certainly never tracked mud like I have here,” he laughed.

Parsons said the mud resulting from rain presented challenges for setting the foundation, but his crew is working seven days a week to stay on schedule.

Last Friday, crew members were pouring concrete near the parking lot and working on an exterior awning. Inside, electrical work was being completed in anticipation of the large stainless steel ovens and appliances set to arrive this week.

    Parsons said interior design is soon to follow.  That design is sure to include artifacts significant to Rowan County and Eastern Kentucky and is being assembled at the Cracker Barrel corporate décor warehouse in Lebanon, Tenn., Ludington said.

    Each Cracker Barrel is uniquely decorated with authentic American artifacts that are painstakingly collected and the decor team will assemble the entire design in the warehouse before it adorns the walls of the Morehead store.

    “We have a restaurant setup team here in the décor warehouse who are setting up the restaurant exactly as it will be in Morehead,” she said.

    The team photographs the finished design, packs each piece and ships it to the store for installation. Ludington said some design elements are common to each of the 608 restaurants nationwide.

    “There’s always an American flag on left side of hearth and shotgun over it. There’s always a traffic light over the restrooms too.”

     The Morehead store is one of four restaurants under construction nationwide. Three others in New York, South Carolina and Georgia also will open soon.

Noelle Hunter can be reached at nhunter@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
 

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