BEREA
Berea College is partnering with Appalachian Hydro Associates to build a second hydropower plant on the Kentucky River in Lee County. In 2021, Berea College became the nation’s first higher education institution to complete the construction of a hydroelectric generating plant, located on the Kentucky River near Ravenna. With this second project, the existing electrical usage of Berea College will be entirely offset by hydropower.
BOWLING GREEN
Harbor Steel & Supply Corp. is building a 50,000-s.f. facility in the Kentucky Transpark that will support overflow from the company’s Lexington location and support the growth of its customer base. The Michigan-based company distributes and manufactures fabricated steel products for the steel and aluminum industries. The new facility is expected to be complete by the third quarter of 2023 and will create 25 jobs.
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus graduated its first class of medical students in May. As UK’s first four-year regional College of Medicine site, the Bowling Green Campus was developed to address a pressing need for more physicians, particularly in south-central and western Kentucky, and to improve access to health care across the state. Through a partnership between UK, Med Center Health in Bowling Green, and Western Kentucky University, the campus is able to take up to 30 new students each year.
BOONE COUNTY
Flottweg Separation Technology Inc., a manufacturer of centrifuges and other liquid-solid separation equipment, is adding a 15,000-s.f. warehouse at its campus in Boone County to meet the rising demand for its parts manufacturing. The $1.75 million project will create 12 new jobs.
CAMPBELLSVILLE
Campbellsville University is one of 22 recipients selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive a grant to develop a local energy plan to reduce air pollution, increase energy resilience, lower utility costs, grow the economy, and create jobs. The program will also open the door to access additional DOE and federal government funds.
ERLANGER
The City of Erlanger has launched a new economic development incentive program to encourage businesses to convert existing residential structures into commercial office space or develop a new commercial building along Commonwealth Ave. The street is a corridor that provides a direct link to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. As part of the incentive program, businesses may request reimbursement of up to 50% of their capital improvement expenses (up to $40,000) associated with the conversion of a structure from residential to commercial or for the construction of a new commercial building.
FRENCHBURG
Agricultural-technology company AppHarvest Inc. has expanded its ag-tech education program with the recent opening of a high-tech classroom farm at Menifee County High School. The farm classroom—the 10th to be established so far— is about 25 miles away from AppHarvest’s flagship 60-acre high-tech indoor farm in Morehead that produces sustainably grown tomatoes. “Five years from now, it’ll be leaders from Menifee County High School and other participating schools coming to us with ideas about how we continue to improve agriculture sustainably,” said AppHarvest CEO Jonathan Webb.
GETHSEMANE
Dant Crossing continues to add new amenities at its campus in Gethsemane, with the most recent addition being a wedding and event venue. The Legacy features three unique spaces that provide options for smaller events on up to a larger reception and event space that can accommodate up to 700 guests. The 300-acre Dant Crossing campus is adjacent to Log Still Distillery and also features an outdoor performance venue, a 12-acre lake for fishing, and a variety of lodging options, with more amenities yet to come.
GRAVES COUNTY
The Hickory Industrial Park is receiving $230,000 in upgrades to increase the appeal for companies considering new locations or expansion projects. The project will include the construction of a 150,000-s.f., pre-graded building pad on 16 acres. The site will include truck-drive access and will support 200 parking spaces.
GUTHRIE
Construction is now underway on Novelis’ new recycling center in Guthrie, a $365 million project that will create 140 new jobs once it is operational. The new facility, which will serve the automotive market, will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by more than 1 million tons each year and enable the company to grow its automotive recycling programs in North America. Atlanta-based Novelis is the world’s largest aluminum recycler and the leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum.
HENDERSON
SITEX Corp., a family-owned uniform and linen rental business, has launched a $4.5 million expansion that will add 2,500-s.f. of space, new equipment, and an expanded loading dock. The expansion, which is expected to be complete by 2026, will result in the addition of 30 full-time jobs. SITEX also operates facilities in Louisville, Paducah, Nashville, and Jasper, Ind.
HOPKINSVILLE
Legacy Metals, a family-owned company that specializes in custom-length metal siding and roofing, is investing $1.2 million to add two new facilities. The project will include a 12,000-s.f. facility that will house two manufacturing lines to develop and trim roofing and side panels. A separate 12,000-s.f. warehouse will also be added to provide room for inventory and further expansion. The company, which also offers a full-service lumber yard, metal and wood trusses, and custom building packages, plans to add 100 new jobs to its existing 26-member workforce as a result of the expansion.
INEZ
Addiction Recovery Care has invested $2.2 million to open a men’s residential treatment center in the former Inez Middle School building. The facility will have the capacity to serve 140 individuals when it begins accepting clients this fall and will offer the full scope of ARC’s “Crisis to Career” model, which combines personalized addiction treatment with educational opportunities and job training. ARC operates more than 30 addiction treatment centers across 21 Eastern and Central Kentucky counties.
LEXINGTON
To help address the state’s nursing shortage, Sullivan University has launched a new associate-degree nursing program at its Lexington campus that can be completed in 21 months. Estimates indicate that Kentucky is operating at 12% to 20% below the number of nurses needed and is projected to need 16,000 more nurses by 2024.
Blue Grass Airport has added four electric-vehicle charging stations that are offered free of charge to passengers using the airport’s valet parking service ($22/day). Passengers can drop their vehicle off at the valet parking booth in front of the terminal and when they return from their trip, it will be charged and waiting curbside for them.
Valvoline Inc. has purchased the outstanding 50% interest in its VCA Solutions, a distributor of top-tier automotive batteries and battery testing equipment. Prior to the acquisition, Lexington-based Valvoline had 50% ownership of VCA. By acquiring VCA, Valvoline is positioned to help Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations, Valvoline Express Care stores, and installers meet the needs of consumers who come to automotive service centers for preventive maintenance services beyond a traditional oil change.
LOUISVILLE
Louisville commercial real estate development company Hollenbach-Oakley and its affiliate, Horizon Commercial Realty, are partnering with Boyd Co. to develop a logistics park in Louisville’s West End. The park, which is located 10 miles from the Louisville airport and has access to I-264 and Southwestern Parkway, will cover over 100 acres and will include six to seven buildings totaling 1.3 million s.f. that will be used for light manufacturing and assembly, warehouse distribution and offices.
Louisville-based CRG Automation has been named on one of the top 10 most innovative robotic companies by Fast Company, which releases an annual list of companies that are making the biggest impact on their industries and culture. CRG was recognized for its work in dismantling a stockpile of old sarin-gas warheads for the U.S. Department of Defense through a custom system that combines traditional industrial robots with newer autonomous robots to make the work safer and more efficient.
Humana Inc. has signed a definitive agreement with private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to divest a 60% interest in the hospice and personal care divisions of Humana’s Kindred at Home subsidiary for approximately $2.8 billion. Humana Chief Financial Officer Susan Diamond said that while palliative and hospice services are important components in the care Humana offers, the company is confident it can deliver the desired patient outcomes through partnerships rather than fully owning KAH Hospice. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022.
Churchill Downs Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire Chasers Poker Room, a New Hampshire charitable gaming facility that is approximately 30 minutes from downtown Boston. Since opening in 2017, Chasers has led all New Hampshire charitable gaming operators in both gaming revenue and local charitable contributions. The closing is expected during the second quarter of 2022.
MOUNT WASHINGTON
MHS Global, a Mount Washington company that is a leading global provider of material handling automation technology and systems integration, is merging with Atlanta-based software provider Fortna. The merger will create a multibillion, multinational company that provides parcel, warehouse and distribution, and lifecycle services. MHS has over 2,500 employees worldwide, with approximately 800 located locally. Upon closing, MHS CEO Scott Reynolds will be president of the combined company, with Fortna CEO Rob McKeel serving as CEO.
OLDHAM COUNTY
Baptist Health has announced plans to build an inpatient hospital and outpatient healthcare community on 55 acres off Interstate 71 in Oldham County. The facilities will be located in the future Clore Station development at Exit 14, walkable retail, commercial, hospitality, and residential area. Clore Station is being developed by the Clore and Jones families of Oldham County, who have owned the property since 1808. Baptist Health currently operates the only hospital in Oldham County—Baptist Health La Grange—which serves residents in Oldham, Henry, Trimble, Carroll, and Shelby counties.
RICHMOND
Eastern Kentucky University is launching a new program that will prepare students for careers in the rapidly expanding area of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones. Industries that utilize drone technology include agriculture, construction, and law enforcement. EKU’s program will begin in the fall of 2022 as a major concentration within the Bachelor of Science in Aviation.
Baptist Health Richmond has partnered with Louisville-based OnRequest Mobile Clinic (ONR) to provide mobile clinic services throughout the Richmond area. The mobile clinics are outfitted with a wheelchair lift, modular equipment, adjustable exam table, blood-draw chair, refrigeration for vaccine storage, and Wi-Fi connectivity for telehealth, all within a vehicle footprint that fits within any driveway or parking lot.
 SCOTTSVILLE
A2A Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to move its headquarters from Nashville to Scottsville’s Allen Springs Industrial Park. The new location will provide space for increased operations and additional personnel and will support the company’s warehousing and distribution capabilities. The company plans to add 27 jobs as part of the expansion.
WEST LIBERTY
The East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute has broken ground on a new facility at the East Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty. The new institute, which is funded by a $3 million Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization grant, is working to expand opportunities for those incarcerated at the correctional complex.
WINCHESTER
Winchester-based Ale-8-One has added a new fruit flavor to its line-up of popular soft drinks. Blackberry Ale-8-One was released in May and will be available for a limited time at select Kroger, Walmart, and Meijer stores.
STATE
The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance has announced plans to establish a mobile unemployment insurance office to make the program more accessible. The agency will have the ability to dispatch the vehicle regularly to underserved communities to help claimants file for benefits, request payments, verify their identity, participate in eligibility reviews, reset personal identification numbers, and more.
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