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Many residents have asked what’s taking shape at the intersection of White Oak and the Bypass. The quick answer is industrial site development. But the full story is much bigger, and it begins decades ago with the vision that shaped Harrison County’s approach to economic growth.

Economic development in Harrison County is not the result of a single project or moment. It’s the result of decades of foresight, investment, and a commitment to being ready when opportunity arrives. At the center of that effort is the Cynthiana-Harrison County Economic Development Authority (CHC EDA), the organization tasked with recruiting new industry, supporting existing businesses, and preparing the county for long-term growth.

The story of Harrison County’s Business Park begins in the late 1990s, when local leaders recognized a critical need: the community lacked a dedicated industrial site. To address that need, the Cynthiana-Harrison County Business Park was created between U.S. 62 and KY-32, locally known as Connersville Pike.

said EDA Chairman Frazer LeBus.

The EDA purchased the 210 acres for $840,000. In July 1998, a federal grant for $1.5 million was awarded to support the park’s infrastructure, including the road, a force main, a pump station, and water & wastewater lines. The grant was matched with funds from the City and County governments.

From the beginning, the goal was to create a site where industry could locate with fewer barriers, something that required significant upfront investment.

Over time, the park steadily filled, business by business, year by year. Today, it stands as a testament to long-term planning.

LeBus noted.

The CHC EDA operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, led by an Executive Director and governed by a board of eight members; four appointed by the Mayor and four by the Judge Executive, along with those two elected officials.

The current board members are:

The board meets monthly and focuses on three primary goals: attracting and promoting new business, supporting existing industry, and developing long-term economic opportunities. Behind those simple goals is a much larger responsibility: ensuring that Harrison County can compete in an increasingly fast-moving, competitive site-selection market.

Modern companies don’t just look for land, they look for certainty.

LeBus explained.

In some markets, that expectation goes even further, with “build-ready” pads already graded and compacted for immediate construction.

While Harrison County has taken a measured approach, continuing to farm portions of the Business Park until it’s needed. The expectation remains the same: we must be ready before the opportunity arrives. As the Business Park nears capacity, the next question became clear: where does Harrison County grow next?

In 2023, conversations began about acquiring additional land along the U.S. 27 Bypass and White Oak Pike. As Executive Director Garnett Furnish explains,

The Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) is a statewide program that supports upgrades at industrial sites across the Commonwealth. Through a competitive application process, counties can receive funding for transformative site and infrastructure improvements that drive economic development and job creation. Each of Kentucky’s 120 counties is eligible for up to $2 million per project, based on population.

The newly acquired White Oak sites include east and west tracts totaling 25 and 35 acres, respectively, and are well-positioned to support future industrial growth. To prepare these sites for development, Harrison County secured approximately $2 million in KPDI funding through the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, with a 15% local match. These funds are supporting critical infrastructure improvements, including site excavation and preparation in coordination with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 6, turn lanes and traffic infrastructure for safe access, and wastewater system upgrades to support future growth.

These are the kinds of investments that determine whether a site is competitive on a regional or national level.

At the operational level, much of this progress is guided by EDA Executive Director Garnett Furnish, whose leadership has brought energy and connectivity to the role. In July, Furnish will enter his twelfth year as Executive Director. Furnish brings experience in real estate acquisition and procurement, along with a track record of successful business management.

LeBus said.

But Furnish’s impact extends beyond industrial recruitment.

That kind of cross-sector collaboration is increasingly essential in economic development, where success depends on more than just land; it depends on relationships.

From two farms along U.S. 62 to a nearly full business park, and now to the expansion at White Oak, Harrison County’s economic development story is one of steady, intentional growth. It reflects a simple but powerful philosophy: you don’t wait for opportunity, you prepare for it.

Thanks to decades of investment, leadership, and forward thinking, Harrison County is not just waiting for opportunity. It’s ready for it.