Gov. Beshear impressed with construction progress at BlueOval SK plant site

By Quin Welch, Building Kentucky As the second battery plant begins to take shape and hiring hourly-workers has begun for the 5,000 jobs being created at the two plants, Gov. Andy Beshear today joined BlueOval SK executives to tour BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale. Progress has continued since workers installed the first structural beam […]

VIDEO: Raque Food Systems: Family-Owned, Family Operated

By Jenny Recktenwald, Building Kentucky Raque has been designing and building food-packaging machines for the world’s top food brands since 1975. Today, top-tier companies like Kraft Heinz, Tyson, Nestle, Conagra, Kellogg’s, Hershey, and Sara Lee use Raque equipment because it’s well-designed, solidly built, and meets the highest safety and quality standards. Some of Raque’s machines […]

Buttigieg visits BlueOval SK site in Glendale

By Quin Welch, Building Kentucky Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Glendale’s BlueOval SK Battery Park site in March, and came away very impressed with what he saw happening in Kentucky. With production slated to begin in 2025, construction continues to move quickly on the site. Buttigieg — the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana […]

BlueOval SK Battery Park expected to have major impact on Kentucky’s economy, study says

By Quin Welch, Building Kentucky A joint economic impact study conducted by the Kentucky League of Cities and Murray State University found that the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale will generate an estimated $800 million in value-added impact on local governments in Hardin County and its surrounding counties.  “The results show what city officials […]

Coleman visits BlueOval SK site in Glendale

By Quin Welch, Building Kentucky Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman visited the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Ky. on Feb. 20 to learn more about the plans for Kentucky’s largest economic development project in the history of the Commonwealth. “I was so happy to stop by and see the progress being made in Glendale […]

Spirits are high: Unprecedented momentum fuels a record year for Kentucky bourbon

By the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development 2022 served as a historic year not just for the Commonwealth’s economic development, but for one of the state’s most important industries, bourbon and spirits. In 2022, Kentucky recorded its best year for growth of it signature industry, with private-sector new-location or expansion totaling over $2.1 billion in […]

Ford donates nearly $42,000 from timber harvest to Glendale Volunteer Fire Department

By Brooke Porter, Building Kentucky Ford Motor Company donated nearly $42,000 to the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department, generated from the proceeds of timber sales harvested at its BlueOval SK Battery Park site. The donation increases the department’s annual average budget of $80,000 by more than 50 percent. “It’s awesome that they are willing to help […]

Manufacturing growth continues in the Commonwealth

By Rachel Nix, Building Kentucky Kentucky continues to attract major manufacturers to the Commonwealth. The state’s manufacturing sector is growing including recent announcements from T. Marzetti Co. in Horse Cave, Wieland North America Inc. in Louisville, and Material Handling Systems Inc. (MHS) in Bowling Green. These new facilities will create hundreds of well-paying jobs for Kentuckians. All three companies were assisted […]

Innovative public-private partnership funds Brandenburg plant

By Rachel Nix, Building Kentucky A new municipal wastewater treatment plant is coming to Brandenburg through an innovative program. The City of Brandenburg is the first local government in Kentucky to use public-private partnership funds. The city worked with Kentucky Bond Corp. in issuing bonds for the $8.3 million facility. The Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation to […]

New manufacturing facility brings 200 jobs to Bowling Green

By Rachel Nix, Building Kentucky Ball Corporation is coming to Kentucky with the announcement of its first production facility in the Commonwealth. The new Bowling Green manufacturing outlet will create 200 high-wage jobs. Recyclable aluminum ends for the Westminster, Colorado-based company’s beverage can customers will be produced at the 500,000-square-foot facility. Scheduled to begin production in […]

Dishwasher demand allows growth at GE Appliances during the pandemic

By Hayley Robb, Building Kentucky GE Appliances is answering increased demand for household appliances as more people are at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. GE recently announced it will invest $80 million in a new dishwasher manufacturing line at its supersite location in Louisville. This is the second investment in the dishwasher manufacturing line of […]

COVID-19’s continued impacts on Kentucky freight, logistics and infrastructure businesses

By Rachel Nix, Building Kentucky Businesses in Kentucky’s freight, logistics and manufacturing industries are sharing how they’ve adapted to a year of uncertainty and change. From logistical challenges to funding gaps, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely be felt for many years to come. Infrastructure In an interview with Pit & Quarry magazine, Nick […]

New Paris startup to hire veterans, manufacture medical-grade PPE

A new medical manufacturing facility aims to fill a nationwide need for jobs and personal protective equipment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Veteran-led U.S. Medical Glove Co. LLC opened in Paris, Kentucky in October and will bring 192 full-time, high-tech jobs to Bourbon County to produce more than an estimated 1 billion medical-grade gloves. With a nearly $32.5 […]

Strong construction, leasing activity suggests economic improvement in Louisville and southern Indiana

Real estate reports are showing strong signs of Kentucky’s strength as it weathers the impacts of COVID-19 and bounces back from shutdowns. The commercial real estate market for industrial properties remains strong in Louisville and southern Indiana, according to the latest MarketView report from CBRE. These properties include large facilities that house major manufacturing, logistics and […]

Personal protective equipment sought from Kentucky businesses 

The business community and its resources are crucial to helping ensure our medical professionals have what they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Beshear asked the Kentucky Chamber to reach out to the business community and identify manufacturers and suppliers throughout the Commonwealth who can manufacture or provide items for Kentucky’s response to the coronavirus. […]