OCTOBER 2, 2015
REP. ROCKY ADKINS HOSTS TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AT MSU
Morehead, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2015) – Kentucky House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins welcomed the House Special Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology to Morehead State University this week for its September meeting. Legislators met at MSU’s Space Science Center Tuesday evening, September 29, and the Center for Health, Education and Research on Wednesday, September 30.
Chaired by Rep. Martha Jane King (D-Lewisburg), the committee is tasked with learning about the ways communications and technology impact Kentucky’s economy and finding ways to foster innovation, which experts say is increasingly important to a diversified economy.
“I’m proud to have brought this committee to Eastern Kentucky and the 99th legislative district, home to Morehead State University, and Kentucky’s premier space science program,” Leader Adkins said. “This degree program and several other initiatives are paving the way to a new economy in our region and across our state.”
Major aerospace corporations like Boeing and GE Aviation are reporting an accelerated demand for talent – estimated at 200,000 jobs over the next two decades. This sector currently makes up over 15 percent of the whole U.S. economy and serves as Kentucky’s largest export at $7.9 billion annually.
“We hear a lot about how Kentucky makes automobiles, especially with Toyota, Ford, and GM all having plants here, but we also make satellites, jet engines, and many other things,” Chair King said. “GE Aviation and several other players in the aerospace industry are here in Kentucky, and they’re growing.”
Leader Adkins also discussed the new $28 million Rowan Tech-MSU Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the opportunities for job growth in the region. This facility, set to open in 2018, will house faculty from Rowan Technical College and Morehead State University.
“We hope this new technology center will be a gateway for career training and degrees in rapidly developing sectors of our economy,” Leader Adkins. “The courses and skills learned here will directly correspond to jobs these students can secure for their future.”
Evidence of the ability to attract quality advanced manufacturers has been seen as recently as this year with the expansion of Rajant Corp. in Morehead. The company produces wireless networking technology and has worked on projects with the U.S. military, NFL, and the world’s largest mining operations.
“The aeronautics and airspace industry is the number one export industry in Kentucky,” Leader Adkins said. “If we educate and train the workforce here for this industry, we have the opportunity to build a new economy and produce the types of jobs our people need and deserve.”
Rep. Adkins represents the state’s 99th House district in Elliott, Lewis and Rowan counties.
Amy Carman
Director of Communications
House Majority Floor Leader’s Office
Kentucky General Assembly
(502) 564-5565
