With Ascend Elements no longer coming to Hopkinsville, that leaves the fate of what will happen with the partially built facility in Commerce Park II remains up in the air.
It is now in possession of the joint venture of Turner-Kokosing, who won the property in a bankruptcy auction earlier in June. Southwestern Kentucky EDC Executive Director Carter Hendricks says while they are disappointed that Ascend Elements fell through, they are hopeful for what the future holds as they work with Turner-Kokosing to see what comes next to that site.
Turner-Kokosing Joint Venture, which is the joint venture that filed the initial law suit against Ascend Elements. In that lawsuit, they alleged that Ascend failed to pay for work that was done and materials delivered by the joint venture by December 20 of 2024. That unpaid labor was valued to be at $138.4 million.
Hendricks says the EDC will work closely with the joint venture to see if they can help pave the way for future development at that site.
Meanwhile, other industries are either working to open or expanding in the area, with Kitchen Food Company nearing their opening date and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco recently announcing they will move their headquarters from Nashville to Hopkinsville. They’ll be located near their south park campus and Hendricks says they’re bringing roughly 200 high-paying jobs with them and an investment of $250 million.
The relocation will allow nearly all processing, production and finishing to be completed in Hopkinsville. The Nashville facility is expected to close in 2028.