better roads, more small businesses and jobs

The MAIN reason there is no growth in Estill County, Irvine and Ravenna is a direct result of little thru traffic into town. Our established businesses can survive on local traffic. But a new road to neighboring towns increases the thru traffic into Irvine from places such as Lee, Owsley, Powell or Wolfe counties. We the people of Estill County need the vision to work together to increase out of town traffic so we can see more business growth. Small businesses could create hundreds of local jobs. Once you improve the infrastructure, there is no need to form groups to grow and develop the county. It just happens. Small businesses are the heart and soul of America's small town economy.

There are no businesses along KY 89 from the Joseph Proctor bypass north toward Hargett. Why? We don't have a good enough road that brings people from other towns into Central KY so they go through Winchester. It is that simple. Imagine some food marts in front of the high school and close to the industrial park.

Small businesses create jobs and offer consumers more choice. We need more people from neighboring towns to come here. Think of the through traffic from Campton or Beattyville who shop in Stanton on route to Lexington.

Until we get better roads from neighboring towns, efforts to create jobs locally will fail. It is roads, roads and more roads. Get more out of town folks shopping here. As long as we continue to have the same roads we had say 45 years ago, our community cannot be competative and improve the lives of its people.