A plain envelope on the porch. Lawsuits and 990s inside. And a blunt question: why would public officials sign NDAs to sit on the board of a nonprofit that doles out economic development loans? We take you through the claims surrounding the Fay Penn Economic Development Council—allegations that insiders received below-market loans while local businesses were turned away—and we lay out what true transparency and accountability should look like when public-purpose funds are at stake.

We don’t rely on rumor. We walk through the federal lawsuit alleging retaliation against a finance director who raised red flags, the reported use of a building where politics and money cross paths, and the troubling picture that emerges when people with public roles appear to benefit from grants, loans, and government salaries at the same time. If small businesses are competing with a system that favors connections over merit, the result isn’t growth—it’s a quiet exit of talent and jobs from Fayette County.

So here’s the plan we’re pushing: a full, independent, third-party audit of county finances and any deal touching Fay Penn. That means opening the books, releasing board minutes, exposing NDAs, testing loan terms against market rates, and documenting every recusal and vote. Good governance isn’t partisan. It’s a promise that public dollars fuel broad opportunity, not closed-door advantage. If there’s nothing to hide, there’s nothing to fear. And if there’s rot, sunlight is step one to repair.

Subscribe, share this with a neighbor who cares about fair growth, and leave a review with your take: should the county release the minutes and NDAs now? Your voice helps push real accountability forward.

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