By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
The name for the new state office building nearing completion in Frankfort has not been chosen, but most of the agencies that will occupy it have been revealed.
A letter sent to Gov. Matt Bevin earlier this month by Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary William Landrum said while move-in dates have not been announced, the agencies and the number of employees have been established, all of which will be coming from buildings the state rented throughout the Frankfort area:
– The Public Protection Cabinet will have 381 employees, consolidating from its current seven locations.
– The Labor Cabinet and its 278 employees will be consolidating from five locations.
– The Education and Workforce Development Cabinet brings 450 employees from six locations.
– The Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet has 160 employees, who were in three different locations.
– The Commonwealth Office of Technology with 232 employees were in one location.
While those numbers will bring the building to its planned 1,500 employee capacity, Landrum in his letter states several small agencies may be added to the final roster.
Landrum says the new 385,000 square foot, five-story building, replacing the 26-story Capital Plaza Tower, which was imploded last March, “will provide state employees with a new, safe and efficient workplace, while also reducing the footprint of state government in Frankfort and Franklin County.”
The project remains months ahead of schedule. While it was first expected to be completed in early 2020, it could be ready for occupancy this summer, depending on weather.
The building is located in the 500 block of Mero Street, on the same site where the Capital Plaza Tower stood for some 40 years.
Also to be determined is what will be done with the rest of the land, that had been occupied by the Frankfort Civic Center and Fountain Place Shoppes, which were also demolished. City, county and state officials continue working towards a plan to redevelop the 6.4-acre tract.
