Fort Knox

During their annual investor meeting at Elizabethtown Community & Technical College (ECTC) on Wednesday, the Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) honored retired Maj. Gen. John Tindall with the third annual Greater Fort Knox Region Defense Community Champion award from the Association of Defense Communities (ADC). This achievement also means Tindall is nominated to compete for the national award, which will be presented at the ADC National Summit in Washington D.C. this spring.

“John Tindall has modeled for us what it means to be a community servant and provides the

highest level of care and support to our military service members. He is incredibly deserving of this recognition,” said KRDA Board Chair Marilyn Ford.

Tindall, 80, has dedicated his life to serving military families. After returning from service in Vietnam and joining the Army Reserve, he became a prominent business leader in the Greater Fort Knox Region and a champion for organizations improving the quality of life for military families.

Tindall serves on the Hardin County Water District #1 Board of Commissioners, ensuring critical infrastructure for Fort Knox and surrounding communities, and on the Baptist Health Foundation Hardin Board, which enhances healthcare across the 10-county region Baptist Health Hardin serves, including nearly all specialty care for Fort Knox Soldiers and their families as well as a military veteran population of more than 50,000. He is also Vice Chair/Military for the KRDA Board of Directors, providing critical leadership and insight. 

As a past member of the former North Hardin Industrial Foundation’s Board of Directors, Tindall helped attract new business to the community which has created quality jobs for military spouses and transitioning service members. He owns Radcliff TV & Appliances, and revitalizes properties for commercial use in the Fort Knox area, providing valuable rental space for area businesses to lease. 

In 2003, Tindall was instrumental in helping found USA Cares. The organization was initially called Kentuckiana Cares and raised funds for military families through yard sign sales. Now a nationally recognized nonprofit, the organization has assisted over 100,000 military families facing financial crises with millions of dollars in grants. Tindall continues to lead on its Executive Advisory Council, guiding the organization’s growth over two decades.

“It is an honor to be recognized for this award, just as it has been an honor to serve this incredible community and support the men and women who sacrifice so much for our country,” said Tindall. “I share this recognition with everyone who works tirelessly to make a difference for military families.” 

Maj. Gen. Hope Rampy, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), was the guest speaker at the KRDA annual investor meeting. She provided an update on HRC’s vital role in caring for Soldiers, Army retirees and their families, providing dedicated support to nearly 9 million military personnel and retirees. 

“The work we do is about providing readiness to the Army, managing talent and caring for Soldiers, families and veterans,” Maj. Gen. Rampy said. “It was an honor to speak to such an engaged group of community leaders who are deeply invested in the success of Fort Knox and its Soldiers and their families. Opportunities like this allow us to share the incredible work being done at HRC and serve to strengthen the vital partnership between the installation and the surrounding region.”

The meeting was the first for KRDA President and CEO Col (Ret) Lance O’Bryan, who assumed his role in November. During the meeting, O’Bryan celebrated Fort Knox’s role as a cornerstone of the regional economy and KRDA’s work to proactively promote and protect the installation. Fort Knox’s $1.3 billion in annual payroll provides unmatched spending power in the region, and its over 35,000 annual visitors further buoy local retail, hotel and restaurant sales. O’Bryan also celebrated the opening of Fort Knox’s Digital Air Ground Integration Range (DAGIR), one of only two of its kind in the Army and the only one east of the Mississippi. The DAGIR, along with the installation’s numerous critical missions, further elevates Fort Knox’s strategic importance.

“The DAGIR is yet another example of Fort Knox’s strategic value to the Department of Defense. It’s advancements like this that further the installation’s contributions to military readiness and our national defense,” said O’Bryan. “KRDA remains committed to ensuring Department of Defense and Congressional leaders know how valuable Fort Knox is. Our continued community support helps keep the installation well positioned for additional growth and continued economic prosperity for our region.”

Also during the meeting, new board members were introduced, including Lincoln Trail Area Development District Executive Director Daniel London, North South Consulting CEO Krista Stevens and Corey Salsman, Director of Field Operations for Kinetic. Board member Ben LaRue is rolling off the board while retired Maj. Gen. Bill Barron and retired Brig. Gen. Jim Iacocca are now emeritus board members. Hardin County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kendra Scott will fill the term for her predecessor, Margy Poorman, who resigned from the Chamber in December. 

To learn more about KRDA and its leadership, visit growknox.org.

The Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) is urging area businesses, organizations, and individuals to engage with and welcome community visitors attending the 2023 Junior ROTC National Raider Challenge. Scheduled to take place at Fort Knox from Nov. 2 through 5, the event, previously held in Georgia, is poised to attract more than  8,000 visitors to the region.

Ahead of the event, KRDA has launched a new webpage on the GreaterFortKnox.com website where Raider Challenge visitors can learn more about regional tourism opportunities. On this webpage, local businesses can also post special offerings or exclusive discounts for Raider Challenge guests. 

Jim Iacocca, CEO of KRDA, encouraged local businesses and organizations to post their offerings as soon as possible at greaterfortknox.com/raider-challenge.  

“This is the first time Fort Knox has hosted the Raider Challenge and we wanted to create an easy way for local businesses to connect with the thousands of visitors coming to the region. We’re asking businesses to post any promotion or special offer they want to highlight using the online form. Someone from KRDA will review these submissions quickly and post them to the website for our guests to see,” he said.

The event invites U.S. Army JROTC teams from across the nation, who will compete in a variety of challenging events, including a 5K Team Run, Cross Country Rescue, Rope Bridge, the Gauntlet, Physical Fitness Team Test, and more. 

“Our region boasts a wealth of attractions, from charming local eateries to one-of-a-kind shops and entertainment venues. It’s vital that we showcase our distinctiveness, ensuring that visitors realize they won’t need to venture far to enjoy their time at Fort Knox, said Iacocca.”  

“Whether through exclusive discounts or promotions, extending a warm reception to these visitors will prove exceptionally beneficial for our local businesses and organizations.”