When officials with Hemlock Semiconductor announced this week that approximately 300 of its 400 employees would be laid off, it was a blow to counties in the southern Pennyrile in addition to Clarksville.

Todd County has been hoping for more spin-off industries from the Hemlock plant and hoping that many residents could make the short drive across the state border to work at the plant that backs up to the county line.

One thing that hasn’t been dependent on the Hemlock plant’s success is the proposed Todd County Career Path Institute. Judge-Executive Daryl Greenfield says that center will still train young and older people about a wide array of trades, if it comes to fruition as expected.

Judge Greenfield says Todd County is certainly hoping the Hemlock plant will one day become operational as officials say it will, but the Career Path Institute would be an important asset either way.

The Judge says industries looking to move into an area often ask about training facilities, making the project a vital tool in trying to bring plants to Todd County soil.

Todd Fiscal Court is still waiting to hear back on a federal grant to complete the funding of the project, but everyone involved has been optimistic it will come through. Hemlock officials told the Leaf Chronicle this week that they do plan to begin operations at some point in the future in Clarksville, but conceded that might not happen this year.

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01/15/2013/am