KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE • 2025 EDITION | VOLUME 172 KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 12 INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR Gov. Andy Beshear discusses how Kentucky engineered its best fi ve-year run in state history. 18 BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS Record numbers in projects, capital investment and job creation have placed Kentucky on a path of sustainable success. 22 BLUEPRINT UPDATE Partners statewide are helping to drive the future of economic development throughout the Bluegrass State. 26 KY BY THE NUMBERS The math adds up to record-breaking results in Kentucky. 30 KY MAKES From Hot Pockets to Corvettes, products made in Kentucky have become household names and customer favorites around the world. 34 MANUFACTURING How Kentucky furthered its place as a national manufacturing leader in multiple sectors in 2024. 38 DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS From the busiest riverport in the country to the No. 1 air cargo center, Kentucky is the undisputed national leader in moving goods. KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE | 2025 07 OUR NEW KENTUCKY HOME A new branding campaign positions Kentucky to take advantage of its inherent assets, legacy industries and forward-thinking talent. 12 344 KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 63 42 78 90 42 AUTOMOTIVE Brands like Ford, Lincoln, Toyota and GM propel Kentucky to No. 1 per capita in passenger vehicle production in the U.S. 46 WORKFORCE There are many players in the Kentucky workforce development ecosystem, but they are all part of Team Kentucky. 54 METALS Steelmaking, aluminum fabrication and other metal factories supply the materials that serve as the foundation for manufacturers in Kentucky and around the country. 56 INTERNATIONAL Kentucky ranks No. 4 in the nation in FDI jobs as a percentage of overall employment. 59 BOURBON The making of bourbon brings economic development and tourism together in a happy and lasting marriage in Kentucky. 63 AEROSPACE Highlighted by recent corporate investment deals, aerospace has become the No. 1 export in the Bluegrass State. 66 HEALTH CARE Norton West Louisville is just one example of how access to quality care is growing throughout Kentucky. 70 HIGHER EDUCATION From technical schools to major universities, the higher education system in Kentucky prepares and equips the workforce of tomorrow. 74 KY INNOVATION KY Innovation Hubs are helping small business entrepreneurs statewide. 78 ENERGIZING THE FUTURE From battery production to energy generation diversifi cation, Kentucky is leading the charge to a more sustainable future. 82 SITE DEVELOPMENT The fi rst round of KPDI was so successful that the state doubled down on its investment to help communities prepare more sites for development. 86 FILM IN KENTUCKY It’s not just about the incentives in Kentucky. It’s also about the people, settings and skillsets for fi lmmaking found in abundance statewide. 90 QUALITY OF LIFE There’s no place like Our New Kentucky Home.6 KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE ONLINE EDITION TAKE THIS GUIDE WITH YOU ENJOY Read the digital edition on your tablet and phone. Click on links within articles for even more information. SHARE Share the magazine on social media with your friends and community. LINK Feature the magazine on your blog, website or newsletters with a link or one of our easy-to-use tools. siteselection.com/issue/kentucky- economic-development-guide-2025/ The publishers believe that the information contained in this publication is accurate. However, the in formation is not war ranted, and neither Conway Data, nor the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, assumes any liability or responsibility for actual, consequential or incidental damages re sulting from inaccurate or erroneous information. PHONE: (770) 446-6996 • FAX: (770) 263-8825 • TOLL FREE: (800) 554-5686 email: editor@conway.com Kentucky Economic Development Guide is published by Conway Data, Inc. 6625 The Corners Parkway, Suite 200, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 USA. PRINTED IN USA. ©2025 Conway Data Inc. Publisher/Director LAURA LYNE Executive Vice President RONALD J. STARNER Editor in Chief ADAM BRUNS Editor Emeritus MARK AREND Senior Editor GARY DAUGHTERS Associate Editor ALEXIS ELMORE Assistant Custom Content EditorLINDSAY LOPP Art DirectorNEGIN MOMTAZ Production Coordinator/Designer BOB GRAVLEE Lead Designers SEAN SCANTLAND RICHARD NENOFF Designer ASHLEIGH PORTER Data Services Manager KAREN MEDERNACH Senior Research Associate BRIAN ESPINOZA Research Associate McKENZIE WRIGHT GLOBAL SALES & MARKETING Vice President of Sales CHARLES FITZGIBBON Regional Director — Northeast U.S. MIKE GLENNON Regional Director — Midwest U.S. CATHY McFARLAND Regional Director — Southeast U.S. MARTA RUSSELL Regional Director — Western U.S. PAUL NEWMAN Regional Director — U.S. MARGARET ROSE EuropeBRENDAN DOHERTY, +44 7999 786752 Japan HIROKO MINATO, +81 50 8882 3456 Korea CHUL LEE, +82 2 466 5595 Sales Administrator CHRISTI STANSBERRY Sales Development Representative BRE ROGERS BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Chief Financial Officer DEBBIE PORTER Accounting Associate DAVIS WILSON CIRCULATION Circulation Manager JULIE CLARKE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TEAM Director of Programming & Analytics DANIEL BOYER IT CoordinatorMARK BERTRAM Webmaster DANIEL MONAGHANKENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 7 T here are few places better situated to combine business and pleasure than next- door neighbors Blue Grass Airport (LEX) and Keeneland. They’re so close the image of a bugler calling Thoroughbreds to the post is built into the airport’s logo. When horse sales are transpiring on the pristine grounds of Keeneland, the steady parade of expensive equines is matched by the procession of international private jets ferrying in their purchasers from all over the world at LEX, a complex with an annual economic impact of $709 million. When three weeks of racing unfold in the spring and fall, grandstand railbirds like me get to join in the fun, doing our best by ADAM BRUNS When a New Place Feels Like Home [ ATTRACTING TALENT & INVESTMENT ] New Kentucky Home is the name of a new marketing initiative, but it’s built on an everyday way of life. Photo of downtown Danville courtesy of Kentucky TourismNext >