Gov. Beshear: Kentucky Sets Back-to-Back Exports Record With Over $47 Billion in Products Shipped Globally
Canada remains Kentucky’s top export destination; aerospace products and motor vehicles saw increase in 2024
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Kentucky once again set an all-time record for products shipped globally, with $47.7 billion in exports in 2024. The commonwealth broke the record set in 2023 with an 18.7% increase over the previous year.
“The global demand for Kentucky-made products, made by hard-working Kentuckians right here in the commonwealth, has never been higher,” said Gov. Beshear. “For a second consecutive year we have set a new state record for exports, and that wouldn’t be possible without quality companies relying on Kentucky’s hard-working and talented workforce. The commonwealth’s commitment to developing partnerships all over the globe is critical for our long-term economic success. Now more than ever, the rest of the world is realizing that you just can’t beat a Kentucky-made product.”
According to data recently made available by the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division and WISERTrade, Canada once again led the way as Kentucky’s top export destination, with over $9.3 billion in products. The United Kingdom (more than $4.9 billion), France (over $4.7 billion), China (more than $4.3 billion) and Mexico (over $4.1 billion) remain in the top five destinations for Kentucky-made products. Other top trade partners included Brazil, Netherlands, Malaysia, Germany and Singapore.
Aerospace products and parts remained Kentucky’s top export in 2024. The industry shipped more than $18.9 billion in products out of the United States, representing a nearly 41.8% increase over the previous year.
Motor vehicles and pharmaceuticals/medicines remain among Kentucky’s leading exports. Motor vehicles saw $4.4 billion in products distributed and an 18% increase over the previous year, while $3.7 billion worth of pharmaceuticals were shipped globally. Motor vehicle parts (nearly $2 billion) and engines, turbines and power transmission equipment (over $1.7 billion) round out the top five products categories shipped from the commonwealth.
Kentucky’s export growth 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 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 60,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $14 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.
Last March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. And in November, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
For more information on Kentucky exports, visit kyexports.com.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.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 Programs Power Skills Training for More Than 4,200 Kentuckians
Workforce funding provides support for trainees across commonwealth
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted progress in the commonwealth’s mission to maintain, develop and retain its world-class workforce and further bolster Kentucky’s surging economy.
Over 4,200 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to $2.1 million in 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. 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.
“The commonwealth is home to an incredibly hardworking and talented workforce, and it is our job to equip them with the skills necessary to do the jobs we’re bringing to our New Kentucky Home,” said Gov. Beshear. “The Bluegrass State Skills Corp. is crucial to our workforce training and development and helps our businesses continue to build on Kentucky’s record-breaking economic momentum.”
This month’s approvals included workforce training support for 920 employees at the Bluegrass Business Consortium in Berea and an additional 461 workers at Perfetti Van Melle USA in Erlanger. A full list of the new approvals is available here.
Today’s approvals build on momentum for fiscal year 2025, as the BSSC board approved more than $1.7 million in training funds and credits for over 4,000 trainees across 26 Kentucky facilities during a meeting in August and supported funding for 8,775 Kentuckians at the November meeting.
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 Corp. Board of Directors.
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 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 60,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $14 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.
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.
Last March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. And last month, the Governor 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 CED.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 Secures Another Low Recidivism Rate; Over the Past 2 Years Nearly 70% of Those Released From State Custody Have Not Returned
New online higher education program with Ashland Community and Technical College focused on successful reentry, providing for Kentucky families
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky has secured another low recidivism rate. Nearly 70% of people released from state custody over the past two years have not been re-incarcerated.
Since 2022, out of nearly 13,000 individuals released from state custody, 8,930 have not returned. For those inmates, the current recidivism rate is 30.81%, which is 1.6% lower than the prior year. Kentucky defines recidivism as re-incarceration within 24 months of release from custody. In 2020, the state recorded the lowest rate ever at 27.15%.
“My faith teaches me that there are second chances in this life – and that we are all our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” said Gov. Beshear. “Our New Kentucky Home is a place where second chance opportunities are provided to those who have paid their debt to society so they can get back on their feet, find a good job and become a productive member of their community. I am proud of the work we are doing with partners across the commonwealth to increase public safety.”
To further reduce recidivism, Gov. Beshear also announced today that his administration is partnering with Ashland Community and Technical College to offer a new online Associate of Arts degree for inmates at Little Sandy Correctional Complex who have at least 12 months left to serve or to become eligible for parole.
The initial round will include 56 individuals. This educational opportunity qualifies inmates upon release for jobs with an average annual salary of roughly $37,000, or more than $17 per hour.
As an approved Prison Education Program (PEP), the college will use federal Pell Grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to assist with transitioning justice-involved individuals out of prison and back into the classroom or the workforce at no cost to Kentucky taxpayers.
“We are laser focused on ensuring that when individuals leave state custody, they are equipped to become successful, law-abiding citizens in their communities by participating in addiction treatment programs, educational programs, by obtaining a good job and accessing community and state resources,” Department of Corrections Commissioner Cookie Crews said. “When individuals who have paid their debt to society succeed outside of prison, Kentucky succeeds. We have a talented reentry team dedicated to this mission, and we are working every day to expand partnerships.”
Corrections currently offers adult basic education and GED classes for inmates at all 14 prisons, as well as career and technical education courses.
Building off work the administration is already doing with businesses and state agencies to build access to an untapped talent pool, the Governor also announced that each of Kentucky’s 14 state prisons have established its own reentry center. The centers operate inside the prisons and deliver focused life-skills training designed to prepare inmates for success upon release.
“Thousands of people will be released from prison every year, and by investing in their success, our children are safer, our communities are stronger and taxpayers’ money is saved,” Gov. Beshear said. “Kentucky is a place where people can realize their hopes and dreams and we are working to ensure that is true for every one of our citizens.”
With the leadership of the Beshear-Coleman administration, Kentucky’s economy is booming. To assist the justice-involved population with finding meaningful employment, addiction treatment and education, the administration has taken several important steps, including:
- On Oct. 17, the Governor signed an executive order establishing the Governor’s Council of Second Chance Employers, comprised of 15 business and community leaders, including leaders from Amazon, BlueOval SK, UPS, DV8 Kitchen and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, along with the secretaries of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Education and Labor Cabinet. Click here to view the news conference.
- To enable reentering inmates to compete in Kentucky’s fast-paced labor market, the Governor also announced that his administration is expanding career and technical opportunities throughout the prison system. The first prison to launch a new professional licensure program is the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women, which is working to establish a licensed cosmetology school. This will be the first time in Kentucky that a prison has operated a cosmetology school.
- In April, Gov. Beshear announced a new website to help Kentuckians seeking second chances find a job, get an education or continue recovery. The site also connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent.
- In 2023, the Governor was joined by members of the Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council to launch the Jobs on Day One initiative, which aims to provide inmates with employable skills when they leave incarceration. This new initiative helps former inmates become strong candidates for Kentucky’s fast-paced labor market through the development of job skills while providing educational opportunities and treatment services. Employers interested in participating in Jobs on Day One, click here.
- The Kentucky Transformational Employment Program has trained more than 4,000 business leaders across the commonwealth as second-chance employers for individuals recently released from prison or in recovery from addiction.
- In June 2024, the Beshear-Coleman administration announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth had decreased for the second year in a row, with 2023 seeing a 9.8% decrease compared with the previous year. In 2023, the state supported the distribution of more than 160,000 doses of Narcan. 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.
- On his third day in office, Gov. Beshear restored voting rights to Kentuckians who had completed their sentences for nonviolent, nonsexual offenses. Now nearly 195,923 Kentuckians’ rights have been restored.
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Gov. Beshear Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Heavy Rain
Governor activates emergency response, price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency as a flood watch is in effect for early Saturday, Feb. 15, through midday Sunday, Feb. 16. Another 2 to 5 inches of rainfall is expected, and, combined with previous rainfall over the past several days, will likely result in flooding across the state.
Significant flooding is possible, including widespread areal, river and isolated flash flooding. According to the National Weather Service, river flooding is very likely this weekend through next week. Significant flooding is expected where the heaviest rain falls.
“We want everyone to be careful,” Gov. Beshear said. “The amount of rain coming down will make it hard to drive, and flash flooding, especially across our roads, can create dangerous conditions. And remember, don’t drive through standing water, it can have a current, and it is incredibly dangerous.”
The Governor is taking action by activating the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center and units of the Kentucky National Guard to stand ready to respond. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials and crews are also on alert, and local emergency management leaders are working to keep Kentuckians everywhere informed.
Gov. Beshear also activated the state’s emergency operations center and implemented the state’s price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians from overpriced goods and services as they clean up and recover from the storm. Consumers should report price gouging to the Office of the Attorney General.
Drivers are urged to check traffic conditions before traveling at GoKy.ky.gov.
For additional preparedness tips, visit kyem.ky.gov.
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