Overview

The Kentucky Transpark, an environmentally friendly and attractive, high-tech commerce and business park, is located on U.S. 31-W and Highway 68/80 on the north side of Bowling Green. This mixed use, south central Kentucky development is centrally located, within 600 miles of 43% of the U.S. population and less than a mile from Interstate 65, the busiest north/south corridor. With additional access to rail transportation and a state-of-the-art communications infrastructure, the Transpark will facilitate the “Just in Time” needs found in many of today’s businesses.

As the economy takes labor-intensive jobs out of the United States, the need for more high tech jobs will increase. Just-in-time delivery is mandatory to compete in the 21st century global marketplace. As e-commerce and other high tech businesses increase, so will the demand for services to move these products. The Kentucky TriModal Transpark will allow South Central Kentucky to compete and excel in this new age.

A means for an efficient delivery system such as the Transpark will be needed for supporting more than just-in-time economics. It will create high paying and sustainable jobs close to home for our citizens and will also put South Central Kentucky on the leading edge of transportation technology. The promise of the Transpark will guarantee an exceptional quality of life for ourselves and future generations.

The actual construction of the Park is being built in self-funded phases to minimize economic risk to taxpayers. The first phase of the business park, as well as the master plan for the complete business park, has been engineered and roadway and infrastructure construction is underway. To fund infrastructure, financial plans allow for resale of developed sites along with future tax revenue from the creation of new, higher-paying jobs. It is the first development project to utilize new legislation clarifying Tax Increment Financing (“TIF”) enacted during the Regular Session of the 2002 Kentucky General Assembly.

Twenty-two counties and municipalities throughout southcentral Kentucky are committed to the Transpark’s development, making it one of the best examples of regional cooperation in the state of Kentucky. According to Bowling Green Mayor Sandy Jones, “The Kentucky Transpark will put our community on a world-wide radar screen. Like never before, we have a vital tool that will enable us to compete aggressively for major manufacturing projects.” Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon believes the Transpark is a “good project for the entire region and the state. It will provide jobs for many people in the area and will enhance the quality of life for us, our children, and our grandchildren.”

The need to protect the environment continues to be a major focus of the Transpark development. Extensive design reviews and design characteristics that exceed the state and federal environmental standards have and are continuing to be conducted. A state-of-the-art storm water separator system will be installed in the park where potential sources of storm water runoff will be treated through a mechanical system and dispensed to lined retention basins for aesthetics as well as irrigation. The Transpark is also designated as a “No Idle” development and will require occupants of the park to use one of the technologies recommended by the EPA for reducing long-duration truck idling.

With a campus-like setting, the Transpark will have both bike and walking trails along with green space and water features throughout the park. The Restrictive Covenants and Binding Elements of the park have designed landscaping, lighting, signage and other features that exceed current requirements of Warren County Subdivision Regulations, the Warren County Comprehensive Plan and the Greenbelt Master Plan.

Another important feature of the Transpark is the on-site education center. This facility will utilize regional educational institutions such as the Kentucky Community & Technical College System and Western Kentucky University, to provide customized workforce training and specialized services necessary to meet the needs of modern business and industry.

Ground was broken at the Kentucky Transpark on Monday, August 25, 2003. Federal, state and regional elected officials, local dignitaries and approximately 1,000 attendees were present for this historic event. Less than four months after the groundbreaking, the Transpark announced the first tenant to locate in the park. Cosma International, a subsidiary of Magna International, Inc., announced in December 2003 the purchase of 132 acres in the Transpark, where construction is currently underway on a 900,000 square foot auto parts manufacturing facility. Cosma’s Phase I announcement included 300 jobs and $132 million in investment. In January 2004, Cosma announced a second phase of their investment in the new facility. Phase II of the project has the potential to add an additional 800 jobs and an additional $80 million investment. This announcement ranked as one of the top 25 U.S. Business Projects based on new jobs from January to March 2004.

Magna International Inc. is a leading global supplier of technology advanced automotive systems, components, and complete modules. The facility at the Transpark, now named Bowling Green Metalforming, will be the company’s first plant in Kentucky.

Conservative projections anticipate that the Kentucky Transpark will bring over 2,500 jobs to the area by 2010. A key element of a thriving, vibrant region is the diversity of job types. By attracting diverse industries to one location, a wide variety of job types are created which sparks new growth, thereby ensuring a strong economy. Mayor Jones emphasized the importance of the Transpark and its future impact on the Bowling Green area, “Magna could have located its facility anywhere. By choosing our community and specifically this premier business address, they are telling the world that Bowling Green is a great place to do business.”

Bowling Green and Warren County are blessed with several major transportation assets such as Interstate 65, the CSX mainline, and US Highways 31-W and 68/80. Mayor Jones commented “The possibility of a segment of the future east-west corridor of Interstate 66 joining at this location further enhances our position for the future. Our design and engineering focus for this industrial park proves that industrial development, good jobs, and environmentally prudent practices can co-exist and work together well. The Kentucky Transpark will become the success that we envision.”