The WK&T Tech Park is a vision that combines a large piece of our history in Mayfield and Graves County and is a glimpse into the future and the potential that the WK&T Technology Park holds.
WK&T purchased an abandoned college campus formerly known as Mid-Continent University. This campus held a very important place within our community and the goal of the WK&T Tech Park is to transform a former college campus into a high-tech, multi-use park that will be a viable economic asset for the region. The WK&T vision is to watch the park transform into a vibrant, self-sustaining community hub that generates creativity, partnerships and growth.
The development plan includes offices for high tech industries, incubator space for startup businesses, retail space, restaurants, classrooms for higher education, a community center and more. At full development, the WK&T vision estimates the direct impact to be the creation of more than 900 high-paying jobs and the indirect impact of more than 400 jobs.
“Green Technology” is important in the 21st Century for high tech industries. The WK&T Tech Park includes plans to incorporate a solar farm that will provide enough electricity to serve the entire campus. In addition to being a green campus the site is employee friendly and provides a work environment with a relaxing landscape. The campus includes a one-mile walking/running trail, a fully equipped fitness center and a park-like atmosphere.
WK&T is a leader in broadband technology. In 2011, it received a $123 million dollar Federal stimulus to convert its entire system to underground fiber optic cable. It was the nation’s largest stimulus for broadband improvement. The campus will provide fast and reliable state-of-the-art fiber optic service with redundancy in three different directions, capacity and speed to meet the demands of any company.
Two of the most important elements of recruiting and retaining high tech businesses and industries are a trained workforce and access to high capacity, high-speed broadband networks. Other important factors are quality of life, the use of green technology, health and fitness and networking opportunities with other professionals. All of these are engrained within our community and are provided within range of the WK&T Tech Park campus. As envisioned, an employee could attend class to work on a degree and walk across campus to a job. The vision meets the Regional Economic Growth Strategy of the 17-county West Kentucky Workforce Development Board:
- Promote entrepreneurship by encouraging development of more incubator space.
- Talent development, retention and attraction in partnership with area high schools, Murray State University and West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
- Regional collaboration.
- Recognizing the importance of technology in attracting any business or industry.