Gov. Beshear: $1.8 Million in State Funding Approved for Workforce Training To Support Nearly 2,300 Kentuckians
Bluegrass State Skills Corp. has helped provide training for over 143,000 Kentucky workers since fiscal year 2022
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted new momentum within the state’s workforce development initiatives, positioning communities around Kentucky for future economic success.
Nearly 2,300 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to support provided through the Bluegrass State Skills Corp. (BSSC), which oversees programs attached to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development that help private-sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.
“Making sure Kentucky’s talented workforce has the tools and resources needed to continue developing and growing is key to maintaining our economic momentum and supporting our people,” said Gov. Beshear. “Our BSSC program helps communities in every corner of the state, allowing for more investment, better jobs and increased opportunity. We are committed to investing in the people who make the commonwealth a better place to live and do business.”
This month’s approvals included workforce training support for over 360 employees at James Marine in Paducah and 201 workers at Lyons Magnus East in Walton. Other approvals include 200 trainees at CertainTeed Gypsum in Silver Grove, 129 trainees for Carbide Industries in Louisville, 90 employees at El Toro.com in Louisville, 72 workers at Flottweg Separation Technology in Independence, and 60 trainees at Log Still Distillery Management Co. in New Haven, among others.
The most recent BSSC meeting marks the first approvals of fiscal year 2026. In fiscal year 2025, the BSSC board approved more than $9.5 million in training funds and credits for over 30,600 trainees across 115 Kentucky facilities.
In fiscal year 2024, the BSSC board of directors approved roughly $19 million in funds and credits for 104 Kentucky facilities to train 42,600-plus workers – the most since 2016.
Gov. Beshear previously announced over $10 million for 115 applicants throughout the state to train nearly 35,000 workers for fiscal year 2023. The state also provided over $8.4 million in funds and credits during fiscal year 2022. Those funds assisted with workforce training for more than 35,400 Kentucky employees.
Employers across the state benefit from BSSC’s Grant-in-Aid (GIA) and Skills Training Investment Credit (STIC) programs. GIA provides cash reimbursements for occupational and skills upgrade training at Kentucky businesses, while STIC offers state income tax credits for companies to offset the costs for approved training programs. Applications for both programs are accepted and considered for approval by the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation Board of Directors.
Types of operations that could qualify for BSSC incentives include manufacturing, agribusiness, nonretail service or technology, headquarters operations, state-licensed hospital operations, coal severing and processing, alternative fuel, gasification, renewable energy production, or carbon dioxide transmission pipelines.
For more information on the Bluegrass State Skills Corp. or to apply for workforce training assistance, visit ced.ky.gov/BSSC.
Kentucky’s investment in workforce development builds on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,200 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling close to $40 billion in announced investments, creating nearly 63,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $18 billion more than the next highest total.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Ford Motor Co.’s $2 billion, 2,200 job commitment in Louisville; and Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor’s Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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Gov. Beshear: Kentucky’s BlueOval SK EV Battery
Plants Begin Production, Marking Milestone
4 Years in the Making
The largest economic investment and jobs announcement in Kentucky’s history officially begins production; solidifies commonwealth as EV battery production capital of US
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2025) – Gov. Andy Beshear announced that production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries officially began today in Glendale at the BlueOval SK Battery Park, the largest economic investment and jobs announcement in state history. The production milestone comes after the September 2021 announcement, where the Governor and company leaders celebrated the transformative $5.8 billion investment by Ford Motor Co. and SK On that is set to create 5,000 jobs – 1,450 of which are already filled.
“Today, Kentucky marks a historic milestone four years in the making as production officially begins at two of the largest battery plants in the world, set to deliver EV batteries that will transform the automotive industry and the future of our commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “This remains the single largest investment in the history of our state, and it sparked a surge of new investment and job announcements that placed Kentucky at the center of EV-related innovation. I am grateful to Ford and SK On leaders for believing in Kentucky and our workforce. Now is the time to do what we do best as Kentuckians: deliver results.”
In September 2021, Gov. Beshear, Ford Motor Co. and SK On announced plans to build two electric battery plants on the 1,551-acre economic development site near Interstate Highway 65 in Glendale. Officials broke ground on the site late in 2022. To support workforce development for the site, the state committed $25 million to support the Elizabethton Community and Technical College (ECTC) Blue Oval SK Training Center, which leaders broke ground on in May 2023.
The production news comes just days after Gov. Beshear joined Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley, other company executives and local officials to announce a nearly $2 billion investment – the third largest in state history – at the Louisville Assembly Plant (LAP) to serve as the platform for an all-new, yet to be unveiled, electric mid-size pickup truck.
Ford’s August 2025 investment builds on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history, including $13.1 billion in EV-related investments from companies across the globe following the BlueOval-SK On announcement.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,200 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling close to $40 billion in announced investments, creating nearly 63,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and over $18 billion more than the next highest total.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor’s Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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Beshear Administration Takes Action To Protect Kentucky Lives, Bans Deadly ‘Designer Xanax’
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 18, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the emergency designation of bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, banning the drug from being sold in Kentucky and providing law enforcement the ability to make arrests for sales or possession. The action comes after bromazolam, widely known as “designer Xanax,” has been tied to a growing number of fatal overdoses in the commonwealth and across the nation. It was detected in 48 overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2024.
“Team Kentucky has made important progress in our fight against addiction, with three-straight years of declines in overdose deaths, and we’re committed to ensuring that work continues,” Gov. Beshear said. “This deadly drug has no place in our communities, and now we have the tools needed to get it off the streets and protect more lives.”
The classification of bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance took immediate effect following the Governor’s emergency regulation. Gov. Beshear’s decision came after a request by Attorney General Russell Coleman.
“By answering our call to take emergency action on bromazolam, we have given Kentucky law enforcement new tools to keep this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Attorney General Coleman. “I’m proud of the zealous collaboration with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force to sound the alarm and save lives. We live in a moment when as little as one pill can kill – and is killing – our kids. I’m glad we could work together to tackle this grave threat.”
Kentucky joins Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia in designating bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Fight Against Addiction
In May of this year, Gov. Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth decreased for the third year in a row, with a 30.2% decrease in 2024 compared with the previous year.
Gov. Beshear has continued to fight the state’s drug epidemic since his time as attorney general, when he led the nation in the number of individual opioid lawsuits filed by an attorney general. Now, Gov. Beshear is working to make sure the hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement funds go to treatment and the communities impacted.
The state’s Treatment Access Program also allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and the Recovery Ready certification helps communities support residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction. The Beshear-Coleman administration created a website to help people in recovery find housing, FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org, and a website to support Kentuckians seeking second chances find a job, get an education or continue recovery, SecondChance.ky.gov. The site also connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent.
Treatment Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).
Information about treatment programs all across the commonwealth is available at FindHelpNowKy.org. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as at FindNaloxoneNowKy.org and FindMentalHealthNowKy.org.
Visit the Kentucky State Police website to find one of KSP’s 16 posts where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program. The Angel Initiative is completely voluntary, and individuals will not be arrested or charged with any violations if they agree to participate in treatment.
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Gov. Beshear Highlights 10-Day Economic Win Streak With Over $6.3 Billion Invested and More Than 1,000 Jobs
4 transformational projects showcase Kentucky’s national leadership in innovation and advanced manufacturing
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 20, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted an economic win streak for Kentucky, with more than $6.3 billion in new investment and over 1,000 full-time jobs announced by four iconic companies in less than two weeks.
“There isn’t anything political about a good job or a strong economy, and Kentucky is seeing incredible success as we prioritize what’s right and create more opportunity than ever before for our people,” said Gov. Beshear. “With iconic companies like Ford, GE Appliances, General Matter and Apple choosing to invest here, we’re showing the world that our commonwealth is the best place to do business. The best thing is, we’re providing more good-paying jobs for Kentuckians so their families can live better lives.”
Over the past two weeks, Gov. Beshear has highlighted major investments by Ford, GE Appliances, General Matter and Apple.
On Aug. 5, the Governor joined executives from General Matter to celebrate a major milestone in the company’s project toward establishing a $1.5 billion, 140-job uranium enrichment facility in McCracken County, which will be the largest economic development project in Western Kentucky history. The company recently signed a lease with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The lease signing paves the way for the company to seek the necessary permitting, licensing and contractual terms with the DOE to move the project forward.
On Aug. 6, Apple and Corning announced plans for a $2.5 billion investment in Corning’s Mercer County facility to produce 100% of the cover glass used in iPhones and Apple Watches. Leadership at Apple indicated the project will help increase Corning’s manufacturing and engineering workforce by 50% in Kentucky. The project is part of Apple’s broader commitment to invest over $600 billion in the U.S. economy over the next four years.
On Aug. 11, Gov. Beshear participated in a monumental announcement by Ford Motor Co. for a nearly $2 billion investment in its Louisville Assembly Plant to introduce an innovative manufacturing process that will serve as the platform for an all-new, yet to be revealed, electric mid-size pickup truck. The project also secures 2,200 jobs at the facility and introduces an “assembly tree” approach to the production process, which will increase efficiency, ergonomics and affordability. The new low-cost, scalable EV platform is scheduled for completion by Q2 2027.
On Aug. 13, the Governor and executives from GE Appliances highlighted the $490 million investment at Appliance Park in Jefferson County that was announced in June. The expansion, which will create 800 full-time jobs, serves as the cornerstone of the company’s new $3 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing operations. The nearly half-billion-dollar project at GE Appliances’ global corporate headquarters in Louisville furthers the operation’s role as the company’s primary location for research, product design, development and testing.
These recent investment and job creation announcements build on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,200 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling close to $40 billion in announced investments, creating nearly 63,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and over $18 billion more than the next highest total.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; and Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor’s Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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