One of the major projects promoted by the Southern Pennyrile Chamber Alliance is perhaps not as much of a sure thing as it once appeared to be, though officials remain “cautiously optimistic.”

Speaking at the League of Women Voters Legislative Breakfast Saturday, 3^rd District State Senator Whitney Westerfield encouraged attendees to contact their U.S. Senators and Congressman Ed Whitfield in support of the Todd County Career Path Institute project.

Senator Westerfield said massive layoffs at Hemlock Semiconductor have placed a two million dollar federal grant that would put the technical center on the campus of Todd County Central High School into question.

Pennyrile Area Development District Assistant Director Jason Vincent says he simply doesn’t know what the outcome will be for the center, but he should hear something in the coming days and hopes it will be positive.

Amy Frogue with the PADD office says she has a meeting scheduled Monday with state officials to sign papers regarding the $500,000 grant that was intended to be the matching funds for the federal block grant. Christian Fiscal Court worked with Todd County in order to obtain those funds.

Todd County Judge-Executive Daryl Greenfield says letters from other local industries supporting the project have been obtained to show the federal government that there is a need for the center with or without Hemlock.

Todd County Industrial Foundation Board member Eston Glover reiterated that the project was never directly tied to Hemlock’s success, so its delays in getting started shouldn’t stop the center from becoming a reality.

Hopkinsville Community College would administer the learning programs at the Todd Career Path Institute to high school students and adults alike. The high school students would be able to earn dual credit for classes taken in Elkton that some travel to Russellville to take now.

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02/04/2013/am