Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) now has a contract to buy 2,546 acres of the former Kimball International property near Sturgis (also formerly known as the Alcoa property).
The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. The fish and wildlife department wants to develop a wildlife management area (WMA) on the property. The WMA would eventually include another large tract in Crittenden County.
Forestland Group, a timber management company from North Carolina, owns more than 9,000 acres at the location, all in one piece, but has agreed to parcel it out in two sections starting with a tract in Union County. KDFWR wants about 6,800 acres to develop for public use, including hunting, fishing, hiking and nature watching.
Benjy Kinman, deputy commissioner of the KDFWR, says the state has received confirmation that it is getting $3.25 million from the federal Forest Legacy Fund to help defray the cost to KDFWR. Other partners are involved in the project, including the Nature Conservancy.
“We are calling (this) Phase I. Funds should arrive this summer,” Kinman said. “We hope to close on this property prior Dec 31, 2011 if not sooner.”
The state has also applied for $5.1 million in additional federal grant funds to secure 6,807 acres in Crittenden County. Kinman said that will be Phase 2.
