Community Ventures breaks ground on Cannonball Run Subdivision in Cayce

Community Ventures joined state and local officials, funding partners and community members Wed., Aug. 12 to break ground on Cannonball Run, a new seven-homesite residential development in Cayce that will expand housing opportunities while advancing the Fulton County community’s long-term recovery from the 2021 tornado.

The project represents years of collaboration among Community Ventures, Fulton County and state, federal, regional and local partners to acquire property, secure resources, navigate environmental and development requirements, and prepare the site for new housing.

“The measure of this project will be the homes that rise here and the families who make their lives inside them,” said Bart Horne, president of real estate development for Community Ventures. “We’re humbled by this community’s trust and grateful for the opportunity to help deliver on it.”

Public investment supporting Cannonball Run includes Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery resources from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Kentucky Department for Local Government, as well as support by Kentucky Housing Corporation and the Rural Housing Trust Fund. Community Ventures also recognized Fulton County Fiscal Court, the Purchase Area Development District, and the public, nonprofit and private partners whose cooperation helped advance the development.

Fulton County Judge-Executive Jim Martin emphasized both the time required for disaster recovery and the importance of cooperation between the county and Community Ventures.

“I remember standing out in this road looking at this rugged property and these old, dilapidated houses that the tornado had smashed around and thinking, ‘I wonder if we’ll ever do anything with this?’” Martin said. “You have to buy land. You have to go through the grants process. You have to go through the environmental process. It just takes a lot of time. But we’re here today, and we’re ready to go.”

Martin described his vision for what the property will become.

“I want to look over here and see children out here in the street riding bicycles,” he said. “I want to see houses. I want to see neighbors being neighbors to other people. That is the dream of this project.”

Sen. Jason Howell, who represents Fulton County and grew up in the area, emphasized the need for quality housing as the county works to retain families and strengthen schools, workforce and industry.

“We can’t have people staying home, and we can’t have people moving here and bringing families into our communities and into our schools, without a good place to live,” Howell said.

Howell also stressed the importance of public-private collaboration in addressing Kentucky’s housing needs.

“There aren’t any silver-bullet answers,” he said. “There are a lot of things that we have to do. Public-private partnerships and groups like Community Ventures are absolutely essential to this process.”

Mark Welch, president of the Fulton-Hickman Counties Economic Development Partnership and a Community Ventures board member, described housing as fundamental economic infrastructure.

“For those of us working in economic development, we see every day how housing is a foundation of a strong local economy,” Welch said. “When a family considers staying here or moving here, they’re asking: ‘Can I build a good life here? Is there a home for my family? Is this a community with a future?’ Cannonball Run helps us answer yes to all of those questions.”

“Seven new homes will not solve every housing challenge in our region, but they will be tangible proof that this community can meet a need, bring the right partners together, secure resources and move from planning to construction,” Welch added.

The development’s name was inspired by Cayce’s railroad heritage and the community’s connection to legendary railroad engineer Casey Jones, who grew up in the area. Horne said the connection reflects “service, courage, responsibility, and remembering where you came from when you move forward in life.”

The August 12 ceremony included remarks from Horne, Howell, Martin and Welch, followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking. Community representatives, local officials, economic-development partners, contractors, school representatives and other community stakeholders were among those in attendance.

Construction of Cannonball Run will turn the seven planned homesites into new opportunities for families to establish roots in Cayce while contributing to the community’s ongoing recovery and economic future.

Individuals interested in Cannonball Run or other Community Ventures housing and homeownership opportunities may contact Joshua Wessel at jwessel@cvky.org.