Edmonson County Industrial Authority Surprises Meredith Welding Technologies With Business of the Year

Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander (left) presents "Business of the Year" to Brandon Meredith of Meredith Welding Technologies Tuesday December 5 at Tayvin Gardens in Smiths Grove.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
It almost seemed as if there were no surprises at the annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas Dinner and awards ceremony Tuesday, December 5th at Tayvin Gardens in the Chalybeate community. 
 
Almost.
 
Perennial powerhouse Yahagi American Molding Inc., Yami, as it is called, won “Industry of the Year.”
 
No surprise.
 
An Edmonson County High School teacher thought he was there just as another visitor who was invited alongside a few other faculty in support of the vocational program at the high school.
 
Surprise.
 
Brandon Meredith of Meredith Welding Technologies was awarded “Business of the Year.”
 
The bait strung out to get him to the dinner was IA President Kevin Alexander, who also serves as Edmonson County Clerk, speaking about the 10 million dollar grant awarded to the school to remodel the vocational facilities where Meredith teaches welding.
 
Yami was unable to send a representative to accept their award for “I don’t know how many years in a row now,” Alexander said.
 
“I wish they could have been here tonight,” he said about Yami.

Senator of the 9th District David Givens speaks at the annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas dinner and award ceremony at Tayvin Gardens Tuesday December 5 in Smiths Grove.

Edmonson County executive recruiter Jon Sanders speaks at the annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas dinner and award ceremony at Tayvin Gardens Tuesday December 5 in Smiths Grove.

Alexander felt like his team had done a pretty good job keeping Meredith’s award “under wraps,” he said.
 
In 2011, he was a one-man operation, Alexander said about Meredith, while today, he is a 15-man operation.
 
Meredith was originally a student in the welding program at ECHS and the pathway to success for him was already laid out, he just had to “pick the ball up and run with it,” he said.
 
He humbly referred to his original instructor Mr. “Woody” Woodcock, not wanting to take credit for following in Woody’s footsteps, he said.
 
“It’s easy to follow a road that’s already plowed,” he said.
 
He had no idea the award was coming and was flattered to be honored, but it was a double-edged sword because he said it was as well unnerving how he was one of only a couple people in the room to not know he had won.
 
He credits his success to the program’s success and the ability to do high level instruction.
 
“For the level that we are at, for the business we target, the customers and how we service them, we have to have a very selective hiring process,” he said.
 
In attendance at the dinner was 9th District senator David Givens. He enjoys spending time in Edmonson County because it reminds him of his hometown area back in Green County, he said.
 
Givens noted there are ways to grow a community with industry successfully, and while there are ways to go about in positive and negative ways, he feels Edmonson County is growing itself in positive and responsible ways, he said.
 
Edmonson County executive recruiter Jon Sanders also spoke briefly. He gave positive news about the 17.6 acre industry park site where he feels the County is now able to compete equally with surrounding areas.
 
Over the past year, they have competed a Phase 1 Environmental Study to present data to potential buyers the land, ground water and soil are free from hazards and contaminants, ready to build. A geophysical study to essentially map out the area underneath where building occurs. As well as a geo-technical study that consists of boring into the ground to test for things like soil compaction, he said.
 
The point of the testing allows businesses to utilize the data for planning, engineering and construction. Having it done before a business shows interest in the area allows the Authority to compete with rival counties for business.
 

A year ago, they did not have the information available, while every other property in the region did, he said.
 
“So now, that means that if an industry wants to build on that property, that 17.6 acres, it is ready to be built on, next week,” Sanders said. “If someone wanted to.”
 
With 50 acres on a second site, but no road access to 31W, the goal over the next 12 months is to develop a plan on the concept of creating six to seven tracks for six or seven businesses and creating access to the highway, he said.
 
“All we got to do is raise the right bait and hopefully we can land the fish,” he said.