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hen it comes to building and site selection services, Kentucky is second to none. Local and statewide efforts coordinated through the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development allow companies and site selection consultants to stay up to date on available industrial locations. Kentucky's innovative Geographic Information System, a searchable, interactive database that allows almost instantaneous reports to be generated on various sites and buildings, keeps Kentucky on the cutting edge of industrial facility location and marketing.
   Prospects can search the Cabinet's inventory at www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/ and within seconds have a list of all the locations within the state that match the specified criteria. Potential clients select the type of location they are looking for and then input a small amount of information to obtain the needed feedback. The Cabinet's Site Evaluation Branch is devoted full-time to ensuring that the best possible sites and buildings are available and ready to go when needed.
   At any given time, the database houses hundreds of active sites and available industrial buildings in communities throughout the state. These sites and buildings are visited and evaluated continuously to ensure the Web site information is current. To further enhance the site, the Cabinet developed an online building submission form so that owners and developers can add, remove or update listed buildings.
   Sites fall into three categories: primary, of which there are currently 220 active sites involving more than 30,100 acres; secondary, which has 40 active sites involving 15,945 acres; and preliminary, which has three sites with 380 acres.
   Only primary or "shovel-ready" sites appear on the Cabinet's Web site and must meet the following criteria to be published:

1. Size – Contains at least 5 contiguous acres of land meeting certain environmental requirements and flood plain requirements;
2. Treated water – Has at least a 6-inch line within 2,500 feet of the site and the system must have at least a 50,000-gpd excess capacity;
3. Sanitary Sewer – Has the same capacity and distance requirements as treated water, but requires a 4-inch force main or 8-inch gravity line;
4. General Access Road – Either by road or easement;
5. Electricity – Must have access to a provider;
6. Zoning – Must be zoned for industrial use where applicable;
7. The local community must have ownership or control of the land or if privately owned it may be listed with local economic development contact approval; and
8. The site must have a price or range of prices on a per-acre basis.

   Other items desirable but not required for publication are: 1) natural gas – 2.5" line within 2,500 feet of the site; 2) rail access; 3) trucking highway access; 4) telecommunications – an existing T-1 line or better; 5) special studies such as geo-technical, environmental audits and archeological reports; and 6) protective covenants from communities without zoning. Data published is evaluated and verified by Site Evaluation Branch staff.
   Few states can offer the logistics with which Kentucky is blessed. Kentucky is located in the center of the strip of Middle America known as "Auto Alley," which stretches from Michigan to the Deep South. There are five interstates, numerous U.S. highways and a network of limited-access state parkways serving the state.
   Kentucky's borders are within 600 miles of two-thirds of the nation's population, personal income, and manufacturing business establishments. Kentucky is home to two international airports. UPS has its worldwide air hub in Louisville, and its presence has been a catalyst for attracting dozens of other businesses that rely on logistics. CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National Railroads, augmented by a regional and local distribution network of shortline railroads and intermodal freight facilities, allow the state to provide state-of-the-art rail service. Shipping by water is another option, as both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers flow along Kentucky's borders.
   Other assets make the state's sites even more attractive. Kentucky has had the nation's lowest industrial electric rates for five years running. Its work force continually outperforms the national average for productivity and its work-force training programs have been ranked in the top five nationally. The state has a business-friendly government, and a massive overhaul of business taxes in 2005 made it even more so. That could explain why 21 of the Fortune 25 companies have at least one facility located in Kentucky.
   The Cabinet assigns a project manager to provide one-on-one service and to serve as a single point of contact throughout the location process. This provides confidentiality for the company, while affording a degree of comfort to the local communities being evaluated.
   Services provided include:

• Information including detailed physical characteristics of sites and available buildings.
• Detailed community data on utility services, business, local government services, labor availability, and other local resources.
• Accompanying officials to Kentucky communities for confidential community/site evaluations.
• Liaison with state and local government agencies, utility companies, transportation carriers, etc., including arranging for confidential meetings where appropriate.
• Preparation of financial packages including training, tax incentives, and other project inducements.
• Assistance in obtaining required state permits and licenses.
• Coordination of public announcements of location decisions, groundbreaking ceremonies, and facility grand openings.

   Kentucky has what it takes to make your business a success. To find out more about what makes Kentucky special, visit www.ThinkKentucky.com or call 800-626-2930.