The Region

KRDA launches capital campaign to fund its mission to promote, protect Fort Knox

February 6, 2025 By krda

The Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) launched its capital campaign to fund the organization through 2030 during its recent annual meeting of investors. The non-profit, funded through private and public sector investments, is the only organization dedicated to promoting and protecting Fort Knox and growing the defense sector economy in the region.

Luke Schmidt, a Hardin County native and CEO of L.B. Schmidt and Associates, is co-chairing the KRDA capital campaign with Marilyn Ford, KRDA’s outgoing board chair and City President of Kentucky’s Heartland Region for WesBanco. During the meeting, Schmidt encouraged the assembled investors to continue their support of KRDA.

According to Schmidt, the campaign’s goal is to secure $2.25 million in pledges to fund five years of operations beginning in 2026. Schmidt spoke of the importance of Fort Knox and having an organization like KRDA, proactively working to protect its tremendous impact on our regional economy.

“For more than a century, Fort Knox has fueled this region’s economy and helped us weather global economic downturns better than most,” Schmidt said. “Fort Knox’s $1.3 billion in annual payroll and $5.6 billion in annual economic impact are second to none in this region. It is imperative we do all we can as a community to promote it, protect it and grow defense-related business in the region. KRDA has been doing that now for almost a decade with great success.”

Schmidt pointed to several indicators of success since KRDA was established – most notably that Fort Knox’s annual payroll and annual economic impact have more than doubled.

In addition, the post has gained several new missions, including V Corps Headquarters, the Command Assessment Program (CAP), and a new three-star headquarters in Recruiting Command. These three missions alone have brought nearly 1,000 new jobs.

“The KRDA team always credits the leadership of Fort Knox and its dedicated workforce for putting the installation in a position to gain these missions, as they should. But we also know that KRDA’s advocacy, our community’s support, and the region’s overall quality of place make Fort Knox more competitive when these opportunities arise,” said Schmidt. “Competition for new missions is high and KRDA helps make sure we do all we can as a community to position the installation for continued growth.”

KRDA CEO retired Colonel Lance O’Bryan knows first-hand the importance of community support. In his last assignment before retirement, O’Bryan was the Fort Knox Garrison Commander. This assignment is comparable to that of a mayor or city manager.

“This community helps set the installation apart from others,” O’Bryan said. “Whether it’s limiting encroachment, providing career opportunities to military spouses and transitioning service members, or fostering partnerships that are mutually beneficial to the community and the installation, we want to be the very best.”

O’Bryan also spoke about the potential for another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) or mission changes associated with the new federal administration’s government efficiency efforts.

“Because of the installation’s capacity, energy resilience and security, we consider Fort Knox well-suited for growth,” said O’Bryan. “But it’s imperative we have the resources in place to mount a strong advocacy effort in the event the federal government decides to move in this direction. We also regularly share the Fort Knox story with stakeholders and decisionmakers at all levels of government to help keep Fort Knox top of mind. “

Schmidt called KRDA the go-to community organization for all things Fort Knox, emphasizing that its operations and grassroots funding model serves as a national example for defense community organizations. He also commended KRDA’s strong fiscal oversight.

“I have served on several boards and can honestly say I have never seen a level of financial stewardship like that of KRDA. They run a lean operation and it’s tremendous what they have accomplished,” said Schmidt. “I had the privilege of chairing their last capital campaign and am proud to co-chair this campaign with Marilyn.”

During the meeting, O’Bryan also thanked the current board and investors for their support.

“Thanks to our investors, we are able to dedicate ourselves fully to our mission each and every day,” he said.

In closing the annual meeting, Marilyn Ford explained why Wesbanco supports KRDA.

“Investing in KRDA is an investment in the future of our community,” said Ford. “Their efforts ensure that Fort Knox remains a strong economic engine for our region, creating jobs and driving growth. The return on investment is clear—supporting KRDA means supporting economic stability and opportunity for businesses and families alike.”

To learn more about investing with KRDA, please email lance@growknox.org or visit growknox.org/invest.

MG (Ret) John Tindall named Greater Fort Knox Defense Community Champion

February 3, 2025 By krda

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.

Radcliff, KRDA welcomes Kentucky APEX Accelerator to Hargan Building

January 23, 2025 By krda

Pictured from left to right is Shawn Rogers, procurement consultant and the local representative for Kentucky APEX Accelerator for the Commonwealth, and Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) President and CEO retired Col. Lance O’Bryan inside the Hargen building in Radcliff where the Kentucky APEX Accelerator has co-located with KRDA.

RADCLIFF, Ky – Radcliff officials announced today that a representative for the Kentucky APEX Accelerator has co-located with the Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) in the city-owned Elmer L. Hargan Building on North Wilson Road. The APEX Accelerator team helps companies pursue local, state, and federal business with the government, including Fort Knox Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC), with services that include but are not limited to contract readiness, compliance, and market research to identify growth opportunities.

Named for the city’s first mayor, the Hargan family donated the building to the City of Radcliff with the stipulation that it be used for municipal needs as determined by the city government. KRDA relocated offices in 2022 when notified that rent at their former location would more than quadruple.

Radcliff Mayor J.J. Duvall said when KRDA approached him about the opportunity to co-locate with the Kentucky APEX Accelerator, he knew it was a win-win for Radcliff and the surrounding region.

“Bringing KRDA and the Kentucky APEX Accelerator under one roof creates a one-stop shop for local companies that want to do business with Fort Knox and other government agencies. It will help our local businesses and our regional economy,” said Duvall.

The Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation manages the Kentucky APEX Accelerator for the commonwealth, with funding from Kentucky and the U.S. Department of Defense. The local representative for the region is Shawn Rogers. A procurement consultant with nearly 20 years of experience in small business and economic development, Rogers brings expertise in community development financing, business planning, and supporting government contracting efforts.

“KRDA has been our long-time partner in our work to help local businesses tap into government and defense contracting, and we know that Fort Knox alone awards more than $350 million in federal contracts annually. Therefore, we have a great potential to support local businesses in growing through winning government contracts,” said Nancy Brown, Executive Director of the Kentucky APEX Accelerator. “Since we already regularly share referrals with KDRA, they were the most obvious choice for us in Hardin County,” Brown said.

“KRDA helps our clients better understand the missions on Fort Knox and where opportunities may exist for them to do business,” said Rogers. “They are an invaluable resource for our clients.”

KRDA President and CEO retired Col. Lance O’Bryan called the partnership a perfect fit.

“One of KRDA’s four objectives in maximizing the economic impact of Fort Knox is to grow defense-related business in our region,” said O’Bryan. “When we encounter a company at the nascent stages of pursuing government contracting, the first person with whom we connect them is Shawn. We couldn’t think of a better office mate. We appreciate the mayor’s and the city’s support in maximizing this for the betterment of local businesses, our region, and Fort Knox.”

This partnership between the Kentucky APEX Accelerator and KRDA underscores their commitment to growing the regional economy by supporting businesses accessing government contracts. To learn more about scheduling appointments, visit www.kyapex.com or www.growknox.org.

Knox Regional Development Alliance promotes region to Raider Challenge Visitors

October 5, 2023 By krda

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.”

Fort Knox – a Multifaceted Installation

March 31, 2023 By krda

For more than a century, our region has been home to Fort Knox, and our rich history is intrinsically linked to the Army installation. For decades, the 110,000-acre installation had been the home of Armor, and today there are countless veterans and retirees in our community who represent that Armor heritage.

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) saw the Armor Center and School move to Fort Benning, Georgia and several new missions arrived on post. While the Armor Center’s departure was met with some understandable disappointment, Fort Knox’s importance to our national defense, its strategic value and its regional economic impact has only grown since then. Today, Fort Knox is home to multifaceted missions with global impact.

For example, V Corps Headquarters is one of only four corps headquarters in the entire Army. Commanded by a Lieutenant General (3-star), V Corps is responsible for command and control of all Army forces in Europe. They have a forward operating headquarters in Poland, and have been particularly focused in support of NATO allies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Additionally, Fort Knox’s 1st Theater Sustainment Command provides logistical operations for the military in the Middle East, where the unit regularly has Soldiers deployed.

Fort Knox is also the strategic center of human capital management for the Army with three major commands focused on talent attraction, development and management located here:

U.S. Army Human Resources Command provides human capital management for every Soldier in the United States Army. It is the largest human capital management organization in the country, if not the world.
U.S. Army Recruiting Command oversees the recruitment of the entire active duty and Army reserve enlisted force. The command has recruiters stationed all over the country, providing young men and women countless career opportunities and the honor to serve this great nation.
U.S. Army Cadet Command oversees College Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs and all high school Junior ROTC programs. The college ROTC programs are responsible for the development and commissioning of 70 percent of the newly-commissioned officers the Army adds each year.

Cadet Command also hosts the Army’s largest annual training exercise at Fort Knox – Cadet Summer Training (CST). Upwards of 15,000 college ROTC cadets and instructors come to Fort Knox each year for CST.

Because of these strategic commands, Fort Knox also piloted the Army’s new Command Assessment Program (CAP) and is now the permanent home of this new evaluation process that determines which leaders are best suited for command positions.

Other critical missions at Fort Knox include First Army Division East, which is responsible for training and mobilizing all Army Reserve units in the Eastern United States.

The 19th Engineer Battalion, also located at Fort Knox, is the largest engineer battalion in the Army and a Corps level asset of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

As for Army Reserve Commands, Fort Knox is the headquarters for all Army Reserve Aviation in the country. Additionally, the 100th Training Division and the 84th Training Command provide critical training and leadership development for Army reserve Soldiers.

Lastly, Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) Fort Knox provides health and dental care services to Soldiers and their family members stationed at Fort Knox and also oversees facilities at Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky; Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Warren, Michigan; and Camp Grayling, Michigan.

As you can see, the missions at Fort Knox have a strategic impact and global reach. A workforce of approximately 22,000 Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and contractors support these missions each day, making it one of the largest employers in Kentucky and the largest in our region. The post’s annual economic impact is approximately $4.8 billion, including $1.3 billion in annual payroll.

At KRDA, we are committed to making sure our community does all it can to support Fort Knox, ensuring this regional economic engine and premier military installation is strong and well-positioned for growth.

Radcliff Defense Contractor Grows Workforce and Announces Plans for New Location

February 9, 2022 By krda

RADCLIFF, Ky. – Local defense contractor North South Consulting Group (NSCG) announced today plans to build a new Radcliff location amid workforce expansions. This announcement comes as the contractor’s workforce triples in size in support of nearly every major command on Fort Knox. With more than 300 employees and nearly $10 million in annual payroll, the diverse professional services firm’s new location will support its expanded operations.

“We are thrilled that North South Consulting Group chose Radcliff as the place to start their business and that they will continue to call Radcliff home as the company expands,” said Radcliff Mayor J.J. Duvall.

Army combat veteran Dr. Krista Stevens established NSCG in 2012 and opened its Radcliff headquarters in 2019. Stevens and her husband, Chase, who is also a veteran, have led NSCG’s exponential growth. This growth has been especially evident over the past three years, as the company saw a nearly 900% increase in revenue.

“I attribute NSCG’s growth to our highly-talented employees, many of whom are veterans who served at Fort Knox and intuitively understand the installation’s various missions,” Stevens said. “Our team has built a reputation of always delivering quality service to our customers. We pride ourselves on it.”

Stevens added that having a proven track record, or “positive past performance,” as it is called in the government procurement realm, is especially critical.

“An aggressive approach to business development, past performance, strong working relationships and learning how to navigate the government procurement process have all been key to our success,” she said.

Knox Regional Development Alliance CEO retired Brig. Gen. Jim Iacocca said the lessons learned during Stevens’ and her team’s military service and their heart for Soldiers and families also contribute to NSCG’s success.

“Krista, Chase and all of the other talented military veterans on the North South Consulting Group team know what it’s like to work 18 and 20-hour days to accomplish the mission. That, coupled with their passion for Soldiers, leads to their excellent contract performance. They see the Soldiers and families in every action they undertake,” said Iacocca. “Their success excites me but it doesn’t surprise me. KRDA is committed to doing all we can to help grow defense sector businesses like NSCG in our region.”

Duvall said NSCG’s job creation and new payroll brings added spending power to the region.

“NSCG employees eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores and call Radcliff and the surrounding communities in the Greater Fort Knox region home,” he said.

Stevens said she’s proud to live and work in the Greater Fort Knox region.

“Radcliff and Hardin County have so much to offer. It’s a community full of partners who are ready and willing to help us grow. Whether it’s the mayor connecting us with potential funding sources or people offering us cubicles for our growing office or our neighbors at the Gathering Bakery giving us added space to meet, we cannot say enough about how supportive everyone is,” said Stevens. “We can’t imagine working anywhere else and we are excited to grow here.”

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