How the Bluegrass State built a global reputation as an FDI hub.
If the race to land foreign direct investment (FDI) deals were likened to the Kentucky Derby, the Bluegrass State would qualify as the trifecta of winning wagers.
Global firms seeking investment opportunities that offer speed to market, shovel-ready sites and a welcoming business environment find all of that and more in Kentucky.
How do we know this? The proof is in the performance. According to the most recent FDI rankings, Kentucky places first in the U.S. for FDI as a percentage of manufacturing employment (64.3%) and second across all FDI employment sectors.
Drive 18 miles east from the state capital of Frankfort to Georgetown and you arrive at Toyota’s biggest FDI project of all time — its sprawling automotive assembly complex that now ranks as Toyota’s largest auto plant investment in America.
This is not an aberration, says Finn Weisse, executive director of the European Office for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (CED) in Hamburg, Germany.
“Japan is our largest source of FDI, but we’re also a strong market for FDI from Germany, France and the UK,” he says. “Toyota opened its first manufacturing plant in the U.S. in 1988 in Georgetown, Kentucky, and now that campus is the largest Toyota plant in the world.”
“The Governor’s ability to travel internationally yields many benefits to our economic development activities. It’s an opportunity to not only thank the leadership of these global firms for their commitment to Kentucky and reaffirm relationships, but it’s critical for getting job creation projects across the finish line.”
— Kristina Slattery, Commissioner of Business and Community Development, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
As part of the office that serves as Kentucky’s chief FDI promoter in Europe, Weisse regularly meets with corporate executives and site selectors from Europe and around the world. He also coordinates foreign business recruitment trips for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and CED.
“Two weeks ago, we took Gov. Beshear to the Nordics to visit Finland and Sweden,” says Weisse. “The Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are also a big source of investment. Overall, FDI has become much more broadly international in Kentucky. I was in Austria last week. We’re also in touch with companies in Australia and Uzbekistan. Kentucky reaches a lot further now on the global stage.”
Gov. Beshear also visited Spain and attended the World Economic Forum recently in Davos, Switzerland. These trade missions pay dividends.
“We moved up in total investment with the French, the Swiss and the British,” says Weisse. “These investments are becoming much more diversified.”
French Foods Find a Home
Kentucky scores especially well with investment wins among these industries: automotive assembly; primary metals and fabricated metals; automotive parts and components manufacturing; aluminum manufacturing and recycling; food and beverage processing; consumer products; logistics and air freight operations; and med-tech products.
“We will have a food processing announcement from a French company soon. It will locate its first plant in Kentucky,” Weisse notes.
One particular trip by Gov. Beshear paid immediate results. That came when the governor and CED traveled to Ireland in late 2025 to meet with Tate Inc., a subsidiary of the Irish Kingspan Group PLC. Beshear came home with an agreement for Tate to build a plant for making raised floors for data centers in Glasgow, Kentucky. The $76 million project will employ 400 Kentuckians.
Kristina Slattery, CED Commissioner of Business and Community Development, says Kentucky is in a position where the success of existing FDI operations in the Bluegrass State produces more success.
“There are over 500 international firms employing over 110,000 people in Kentucky. Drive past many of our established industrial parks and check out the flags waving overhead. You may be surprised at the diversity of international countries represented, and we are beyond proud of that.” she says.
Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at the ceremony announcing Tate’s corporate facility investment in Glasgow, Kentucky.
Photo courtesy of Office of Governor
“We have been laser-focused on business retention and expansion, which includes support for our existing FDI firms. For the last 3 years, new investment from existing industry has surpassed new location project investment. This reflects the confidence that these companies have in Kentucky’s ability to deliver on speed to market and the strong relationships we’ve established.”
Slattery credits the deal-closing ability of Gov. Beshear with making this happen.
“The Governor’s ability to travel internationally yields many benefits to our economic development activities. It’s an opportunity to not only thank the leadership of these global firms for their commitment to Kentucky and reaffirm relationships, but it’s critical for getting job creation projects across the finish line.”
Slattery says it is all about sticking to the basics.
“These companies can choose to invest anywhere in the world,” she says. “We are honored by the opportunity to compete for international projects and know that by focusing on our speed to market fundamentals, we can continue to bring new opportunities home to Kentuckians.”
Building a Global Brand
The CED also uses one of its shining gems — the annual Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs in Louisville — to showcase the best of what the Bluegrass State offers.
Finn Weisse is Executive Director of the European Office for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
“Kentucky has incredible brand recognition,” says Slattery. “We can’t take for granted the impact that the bourbon industry, events like the Kentucky Derby, and heroes like Muhammad Ali have on our story.”
Weisse has seen the effects of Kentucky’s approach to FDI attraction first-hand.
“I’ve done this job for 15 years. We’ve seen the Kentucky profile on the global stage improve significantly, particularly with the automotive sector running through the Mid-South part of the country,” he says. “As the automotive industry in the U.S. has shifted south, that’s placed Kentucky in the middle of the Southern Automotive Corridor.”
Asian and European automakers have seen this movement, and they are doubling down on their investments in the Mid-South. Now, that shift is bringing electric vehicle battery projects to Kentucky.
“As these battery builders move to Kentucky, we’re seeing a lot of interest in the supply chain for that sector,” says Weisse. “That has been a big deal for us and raised a lot of eyebrows internationally.”
Growth of Kentucky’s three main global logistics hubs — DHL, UPS and Amazon Prime — has also brought a lot of attention to the state.
“An estimated 95% of all products from Europe to the U.S. now go through Kentucky,” says Weisse. “Most of these products go through the UPS Worldport in Louisville. From our three logistics hubs, you can access two-thirds of U.S. business and population centers within a single day’s truck drive. If you wonder why large German companies make washing detergent in Kentucky, that’s why. Our favorable business costs and central location make us a natural choice.”
CED Secretary Jeff Noel says it is more important now than ever for Kentucky to share its message internationally.
“We are living in a world where change is occurring faster than ever before, with more businesses that are part of a complex set of global opportunities and challenges. Successful economic development dictates you operate on a global stage with an ability to execute locally,” he says. “Kentucky is winning because we know what matters: leadership, strategy structure and process with a commitment to winning with integrity. Gov. Andy Beshear builds personal relationships with companies while creating systems with accountabilities at all levels of government to assure businesses have what they need for profitable operations.”
Slattery says that as word has gotten out, international firms know exactly what to expect when they choose to do business in Kentucky.
“The ability for Kentucky to bring projects to market faster than competitor states has become a cornerstone of our reputation with international firms,” she says. “They can find stability in Kentucky. We stay true to delivering best-in-class products and services. Companies know what they will get when they choose Kentucky, and we will continue to meet or exceed their expectations.”
Japan’s Toyota has been a Kentucky mainstay since its main plant (above) opened in Georgetown in 1988.
Photo courtesy of Toyota
