The Seed Academy℠ AgriTech Training Center

The Seed Academy℠ is an idea conceived by the RCIDA to address an immediate education and workforce sector need: future agriculture. The result is a regional center to study and advance the latest agricultural sciences and technologies. The momentum for such an educational facility is bolstered with support from regional schools and colleges, as well as agricultural industries which offer help with the curriculum. The RCIDA is responsible for the construction and is the owner of the center. Russell County Schools maintain and staff the facility. As modeled by the existing College and Workforce Center, the goal is to share the facility and equipment with area colleges for evening adult instruction. A number of colleges have already voiced strong support and commitments to funding applications.

Funding sources include a $376,000 Rural Development Grant; a $1,478,973 USDA-RCAP Grant; and a $3,000,000 contribution from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Russell County Industrial Development Authority Board and the Russell County Board of Education have also made financial contributions to the project. The AgriTech facility is located in the Lake Cumberland Regional Industrial Complex Site One on 11 acres which were donated by the RCIDA. MSE of Kentucky provided the design and engineering drawings.