Watson highlights city accomplishments in 2024

Much of the video presentation focused on economic development.

Watson said, “Last year, Owensboro celebrated numerous economic milestones,” including major business expansions at Swedish Match, Mizkan and R+L T Carriers, and the creation of new locally-owned businesses, like Foam Solutions.

In the video, Claude Bacon, executive director of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp., said the announcements will result in hundreds of jobs.

The last year “has been a record-breaking year for greater Owensboro,” Bacon said, and that the business expansions highlighted in the video “equal $412 million in investment, and 697 great-paying jobs.”

The city is in solid financial shape, with the city having a general fund balance of $7.6 million, Velez said. The city’s brought in increased revenue from city taxes, Velez said.

“We (the city) once again had record high revenues in net profit license fees, occupational withholding fees and interests on investments,” Velez said.

The video presentation focused on several city projects that were either completed or began taking shape in 2024, starting with the indoor sports complex being built along West Third Street. The city broke ground on the 88,000 square foot facility in August, and contractors are currently doing earthwork at the site.

The $16.5 million facility is expected to open in June of 2026.

One of the city’s major completed projects last year was Cravens Pool, which reopened in September after a major renovation, Velez said.

The video also focused on the work the city’s community development department has done in the Northwest Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) last year, including building two affordable homes for first-time homebuyers and doing a intersection beautification project along First Street.

A NRSA uses federal dollars to attract public investment to repair homes and apartments. More than $10.2 million has been invested in nearly 300 projects in the Northwest NRSA.

With the Northwest NRSA ending, community development will turn to the east side of the city along portions of Fourth Street between the river and Ninth Street for a new NRSA this year.

Other highlights of the year included the city purchasing the Colonel House Motel, with the intent of turning the property into affordable housing, Velez said. The police department also graduated its first class at its new police academy, while the fire department neared completion on its new fire training center and started work on building a new Station Three on Cravens Avenue.

Projects for 2025 include more drainage improvement work in the neighborhoods surrounding York Park, Velez said, and that a new pickleball complex at Ben Hawes Park is “coming soon.”

There won’t be an Air Show again until 2026, but the city will replace the event “Illuminate,” a light and drone show that will be staged downtown October 3-5.

A press release issued after Watson’s presentation said “Illuminate” will be a free nightly festival that will combine “cutting-edge technology and immersive art installations.” In the release, city public events director Tim Ross said: “The event is unlike anything Owensboro has seen before,” and that the hope is “Illuminate will be a signature event that draws visitors and locals alike.”