Carlisle - Nicholas County Economic Development Authority Chair retires

Bascom Sorrell , at right, past chairman of Carlisle-Nicholas County Economic Development Authority.

Carlisle-Nicholas County lost 500 jobs back in 2004 when the Jockey plant closed on Concrete Road. It was a big blow for the county that it’s been fighting hard to come back from ever since.

Leading that fight the past five year’s plus as chairman of the economic development authority has been Bascom Sorrell. He was first appointed to the board (which is all volunteer) by mayor Gene Kelly, and then again by mayor Kevin Booth a few years later. The City of Carlisle mayor names three of the volunteer board members and the Nicholas County Judge Executive also names three members. Those six then elect one of their members to be chairman.

Although it’s a volunteer appointment, the work involved includes much more than attending and chairing monthly meetings. Sorrell has typically put in 30 to 50 hours per week depending on the needs of the Board.

Sorrell was manger at the Jockey plant for 39 of the 40 years he worked there.

“After the Jockey plant and all those jobs left, it was heart breaking. I wanted to do something to give back. I was born in Nicholas County and outside of a year in the military and six months living in Paris, I’ve always lived here,” Sorrell said.

Under his leadership he helped organize the board adding a vision statement, mission statement and code of conduct. At first they met whereever they could find space but were able to move into a donated office at the Old Jockey Plant after 3 Star Industries and Triad (Charlie’s Beer Cheese) moved in from St. Louis. 3 Star employs more than 30 workers today and is poised to expand.

They make covers and windshields for ATV’s and also do sewing for Galls, and Liz & Roo out of Louisville. It’s part of the EDA (Economic Development Authority) hope to bring textile back to Nicholas County.

Sorrell was behind partnerships with the Innovation Network, which has introduced a number of businesses looking to move or expand here and also has led efforts to win grants for County Economic Development with Bluegrass Area Development District and the League of Cities.

It was Sorrell who read an article in the paper about how well the Garrard County Economic Development director was doing and visited and then hired Nathan Mick as a consultant for the Nicholas County EDA Board. Mick opened many doors in Frankfort and Washington DC and beyond for the county - organizing an annual Frankfort trip to meet with the Governor, Cabinet, State Representatives and Economic Development Authority. He has also introduced numerous potential business owners to Nicholas County, a number of which are still considering moves to the county to expand or set up a US presence. Mick, who worked for Statebook, a site listing available land and buildings for site selectors around the world used Nicholas County as their sample site. A second website was added to Statebook for Licking Valley Adventures - a nine county group that Nicholas County EDA co-founded to work together to promote the unique tourism attractions in our area.

Sorrell championed the hiring of Carlisle-Nicholas Counties first ever Economic Development director, Tracy Pratt-Savage. Pratt-Savage was president of the Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer to work with Economic Development to earn Work Ready Status for Nicholas County.

Once hired, Pratt-Savage was able to implement the initiatives that Sorrell and the Board prioritized from developing a website for the City of Carlisle, updating the Nicholas County Website and adding Facebook pages for both. Per the EDA directive, she also helps promote local businesses with articles in the local papers and provides a monthly update on WPTJ 90.7 FM Wednesday mornings on “Live on Main” with Jerry Johnson and Regina Barnes.

Economic Development led the effort for Nicholas County to earn their Work Ready Status which finally happened this past Fall after a year plus of work. The county successfully got the buy-in and support of the school, school board, businesses, Mayor, Judge-Executive, business leaders and civic organizations from the chamber of commerce to Tourism, Rotary and Historical Society to get the work done.

Sorrell is stepping down now to devote more time to his family. His mother-in-law will turn 92 later this month, and he and his wife Betty have doctor appointments and other needs to attend to. Sorrell is also very active helping his grandson and three great-grandchildren who are working a 40 acre farm in Nicholas County, and have numerous school and after school events to attend.

He’ll still be available to mentor the new EDA Board this year and continue to mentor Economic Development Director Pratt-Savage. He’ll also remain Sorrell active in the Rotary Club where he’s served on the Education Committee for several years. He’s been on the panel that reviews and awards $1,000 scholarships from the Charles M. Cox Scholarship Fund that the Rotary administers.

With the recent passing of another Economic Development Board member Dr. Bob Sparks, two new members have been named to the board. Rusty Lawrence and James (Jim) Galbraith will begin their service on the Carlisle-Nicholas County Economic Development Board this month. “With the Mayor and Judge Executive, Economic Development Board, Chamber of Commerce and other civic groups working so well together,” said Sorrell “I’m excited about the future of the county.”