FRANKFORT, Ky. (October 17, 2025) – Kentucky continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s top-performing states for business expansion and infrastructure development, ranking 8th in Site Selection magazine’s 2025 Global Groundwork Index. The ranking highlights states successfully combining strong capital investment and job creation with robust infrastructure funding to support long-term economic growth.
This marks the fourth consecutive year Kentucky has earned a top-10 placement on the Global Groundwork Index — reinforcing its momentum as a premier destination for business investment and industrial growth.
“Through hard work, we’ve seen incredible success attracting great companies to our commonwealth and creating quality jobs for Kentuckians,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “What this national ranking shows is that we’re also preparing for the future — with the infrastructure, workforce, and partnerships needed to support the industries of tomorrow.”
Kentucky also received a B- rating for energy infrastructure, ranking among the top three states nationally. Site Selection identified the commonwealth as a regional hotspot for continued investment, thanks to its growing industrial base, modernized infrastructure, and pro-business policies.
Kentucky’s metropolitan regions also performed strongly in Site Selection’s Top Metros ranking, with the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region placing 3rd nationally, and Louisville ranking 7th.
The recognition adds to a series of national accolades for Kentucky’s economic performance. Earlier this year, Site Selection ranked the commonwealth:
- Top 5 nationally and 2nd in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita (2024 Governor’s Cup).
- No. 6 nationally and 2nd in the South Central region in its 2025 Prosperity Cup, recognizing success in landing capital investment projects.
Kentucky’s consistent rankings come during the strongest five-year period for economic growth in state history. Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has announced over 1,200 private-sector projects representing more than $43 billion in investment and 63,200 new jobs — the highest total ever recorded under a Kentucky governor.
Major transformative projects include:
- Ford Motor Co. & SK On’s $5.8 billion BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County (5,000 jobs)
- AESC’s $2 billion gigafactory in Warren County (2,000 jobs)
- Toyota’s $1.3 billion expansion in Scott County
- Ford’s $2 billion investment in Louisville
- Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million facility (1,572 jobs)
These projects have solidified Kentucky’s status as the EV battery production capital of the United States and fueled record-setting wage growth — with average incentivized hourly wages surpassing $26 for three consecutive years.
The state’s financial stability continues to strengthen, marked by record budget surpluses, a historic Rainy Day Fund, and credit rating upgrades from Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings, and Moody’s Investors Service.
Looking ahead, the Beshear Administration’s New Kentucky Home initiative will focus on attracting new investment, developing talent, and boosting tourism to ensure sustained growth across the commonwealth.
For more information on Kentucky’s economic development initiatives, visit ced.ky.gov.
