The Seed Academy℠ is an idea conceived by the RCIDA to address an immediate education and workforce sector need: future agriculture. The plan is to develop a regional center to study and advance the latest agricultural sciences and technologies. The momentum for such an educational facility has been bolstered with support from regional schools and colleges, as well as agricultural industries which have offered to help with the curriculum. The plan calls for the RCIDA to build and own the center, while the Russell County Schools will 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 will be constructed in the Lake Cumberland Regional Industrial Complex Site One on 11 acres which was donated by the RCIDA. MSE of Kentucky has been procured to execute the preliminary design and engineering drawings.

Why is the RCIDA building an AgriTech Center?

AgriTech is becoming a major sector in Kentucky’s economy, with companies like Stellar Plants, Kentucky Fresh Harvest, West Kentucky Aquaponics, and others choosing to make the state their home. Cutting-edge agricultural research companies like Alltech, Kentucky BioProcessing, Lepidext, and more are finding Kentucky a great place to innovate and advance the science of food production. Learn more about the future of farming and how Kentucky is structured to accommodate this industry sector on the state’s AgriTech website.