NKY Tri-Ed business retention and expansion program recognized by International Economic Development Council

NKY Boost coordinates an extensive business visitation program with local communities

FT. MITCHELL, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2013) – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) presented Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp. (Northern Kentucky Tri-ED) with a Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2012 project in the category of Business Retention & Expansion — Three Years or More, for communities with populations of 200,000 – 500,000.

The award was presented Oct. 8 at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

“The Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize Northern Kentucky Tri-ED as being one of the leading organizations in the industry for innovation, creativity and successful strategies,” said Paul Krutko, IEDC chair. “These awards are meant to honor the organizations and individuals who are dedicated to making a positive change in their communities. This organization uses creative solutions and inventive ideas, and offers other regions a wonderful example to learn and benefit from. The award represents an acknowledgment and appreciation for Northern Kentucky Tri-ED’s dedication to continuous growth within itself, as well as improving the industry overall.”

NKY Boost is the enhanced Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, representing Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky as part of the Cincinnati metro area. NKY Boost coordinates a systematic and extensive business visitation program with local communities utilizing a customized software program. Intelligence gained from these coordinated visits helps identify expansion opportunities, troubleshoots problems, provides resources, expands market reach and engenders new capital investment and job growth.

“Northern Kentucky Tri-ED is committed to serving our existing companies, fostering their growth and solving any challenges they may be experiencing through the NKY Boost program,” said Campbell County Judge Executive Steve Pendery, chairman of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED.

“NKY Boost provides a business in our region with a single point of contact for a wide range of assistance opportunities for expansion and immediate operations, for identifying potential tax incentives and workforce grants, for recruiting workforce, and for making connections with regional partners,” said Wade Williams, vice president BR&E at Tri-ED.

In 2012, when Northern Kentucky Tri-ED re-launched and re-branded the BR&E program as NKY Boost, Williams and Dustin Lester, manager of BR&E, visited 47 primary industry businesses that represented 16,702 employees, or 34 percent of the primary industry workforce. So far in 2013, NKY Boost has met with over 100 businesses and expects to meet with nearly 100 more to reach an ambitious annual goal of 200 business visits per year.

“Tri-ED’s BR&E Committee, Wade Williams and Dustin Lester are leading the NKY Boost program for Northern Kentucky Tri-ED,” said Dan Tobergte, president and CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. “I want to congratulate them on this award and thank them. They set aggressive goals and are making Northern Kentucky a better place to do business. The majority of new jobs created in our region are from our existing companies, we’re doing everything we can to smooth the way for their growth and success.”

Duke Energy, a long-standing supporter of economic development in Northern Kentucky, provided the start-up funding to launch NKY Boost. Annually, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and Duke Energy present the NKY Boost Ally Award, recognizing the support of an organization for NKY Boost and its exemplary service to Northern Kentucky businesses. The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) was the first recipient of the NKY Boost Ally Award in March 2013.