Dust and fumes are in the air in the Snow Community of central Clinton County, but the end result will be more progress for the county, in the form of a new stockyards facility to be known as Blue Grass Stockyards of Albany.

Earth moving equipment moved onto the site last week across from the Somerset Community College Clinton Center, at the intersection of Ky. 90 and Hwy. 639, preparing the site for the construction of the $1.8 million project.

In a meeting last week, the Clinton County Industrial Development Authority became the more recent local agency to show its support of the new business, voting in a special called meeting to pledge a $200,000 loan for the project.

The Clinton County Industrial Development Authority has officially taken action in support of a major business venture for the area, that being the Blue Grass Stockyards of Albany project.

The Lexington-based company is in the planning stages to construct a stockyards in the northwestern area of Clinton County, with hopes of getting construction underway this year and being open by next spring’s livestock market season.

During a special meeting of the Industrial Authority last Tuesday morning, September 8, the board members–with six of seven members on hand, voted to support the project in the form of a $200,000 loan. This amount represents a small but vital portion of the overall project amount.

The board held about a 20-minute closed session to discuss the prospective loan client prior to returning to open session.

In open session, a motion was made by board member Barney Latham that “contingent upon receiving applications, business plan, financial statements, tax returns, and any other documents necessary, that the Clinton County Industrial Development Authority will participate in the amount of a $200,000 (loan) toward the $1.8 million project with Kentucky Highlands and other financial institutions for Blue Grass Stockyards of Albany, LLC.” The motion was seconded by board member Keith McWhorter and passed by unanimous vote.

The IDA cannot be the primary lender on a project but does make loans to assist in projects, with amounts depending on how many people are to be employed and anyone needing more information on available loans through the organization can stop by the Welcome Center where the IDA office is located.

The Blue Grass Livestock Marketing Group made an announcement last month that it has obtained property at the junctions of Hwy. 90 and 639 across from SCC-Clinton Center, about five miles from Albany, for the construction of a livestock market to serve Clinton and surrounding counties in Kentucky and Tennessee.

According to a press release issued in late August, the group was planning a very aggressive time line on the project with a planned opening in early 2012. No date had been scheduled for a ground breaking as of press time.

The project is expected to include a 50,000 sq. ft. cattle barn with an additional 5,000 sq. ft. of arena and office space which will accommodate seating of more than 150 people.

The Blue Grass group already operates six livestock markets in Kentucky along with an internet cattle marketing business.