ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – 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 KRDA, their mission, and how to participate in the capital campaign, visit growknox.org.
