FRANKFORT, Ky. (Apr. 3, 2026) — Kentucky is accelerating its site readiness strategy with $12.4 million in new funding awarded to 16 projects spanning 18 counties, reinforcing the state’s competitive position for future job creation and capital investment.
The latest round of funding, approved through the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI), supports critical infrastructure, due diligence, land acquisition, and build-ready site development—key factors in helping communities compete for major industrial and manufacturing projects.
State leaders continue to emphasize speed-to-market as a defining advantage.
“Kentucky continues to lead on investing in site and building development initiatives, laying the groundwork for continued economic momentum and future job opportunities,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Our speed-to-market efforts are a key differentiator as companies evaluate where to locate and expand.”
Strengthening Kentucky’s Industrial Pipeline
The approved projects target a wide range of site readiness improvements, including:
- Industrial access road construction and infrastructure upgrades
- Due diligence and site certification efforts
- Build-ready pad development
- Utility installation and land acquisition
- Enhancements to rail-served and regional industrial parks
Several projects focus on large-scale, strategic industrial sites, including:
- A 1,000+ acre rail-served site in Christian County receiving $1.7 million for infrastructure improvements
- A $2 million award supporting accessibility upgrades at the White Oak property in Harrison County
- A $2 million investment to advance a build-ready pad in Somerset-Pulaski County
- More than $1.1 million to prepare building pads in Todd County
Regional collaboration is also a key theme, with multi-county projects such as the Triple Crown Business Park in Berea and the Bourbon-Nicholas County Regional Industrial Park receiving targeted support.
Driving Long-Term Economic Growth
KPDI continues to serve as a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economic development strategy, enabling communities to proactively prepare sites before prospects emerge—reducing timelines and increasing deal competitiveness.
To date:
- Nearly $93 million has been approved across prior KPDI rounds
- More than $516 million in total site and building investment has been generated with local contributions
- 51 companies have located on KPDI-supported sites
- These projects represent over $5.7 billion in capital investment and 7,400 new jobs statewide
Currently, an additional $35 million remains available for projects entering the due diligence pipeline, signaling continued momentum for Kentucky’s site development efforts.
Competitive Edge for Site Selection
The KPDI program—administered through a partnership between the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development—leverages third-party site selection expertise to evaluate projects based on real-world criteria, including workforce access, infrastructure readiness, and development costs.
“KPDI is designed to give Kentucky the competitive edge it needs to win major economic development projects on the national stage,” said Terri Bradshaw, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development.
With up to $170 million authorized for the initiative, Kentucky is continuing to build a robust, investment-ready portfolio of sites positioned to attract advanced manufacturing, logistics, and high-growth industries.
