Kentucky’s governor has plans to attract new businesses and retain existing ones as some major companies have left the area.Gov. Andy Beshear spoke to city leaders in Louisville on Wednesday, about his ideas to boost Kentucky’s economy following the departure of KFC, Papa John’s and more.”Our goal is to be with that next company that is going to lead their industry for generations to come,” Beshear said.Beshear proposed making universal pre-K a reality in Kentucky, which he believes could add 70,000 people to the workforce. He pointed to the success of universal pre-K in other states, both Democrat and Republican-led, as a pro-business initiative that supports employees and increases job applicants.”This is pro-business. pre-K helps your employees, helps get people back earlier, helps make sure that you have more people that will apply for each and every one of those jobs,” Beshear said.Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI), emphasized that while universal pre-K is important, expanding Kentucky’s business investment incentives is also crucial. She noted that the state currently focuses heavily on incentivizing manufacturing companies, but GLI aims to broaden the scope to attract businesses from various sectors, including biotech, business services, and technology.”So one of the things that we’ve been working on is expanding or working with the legislature to try to expand the Kentucky business investment incentives so that we can be more competitive when it comes to headquarter companies and business services and technology companies,” Davasher-Wisdom said.”So there’s an incredible opportunity for biotech, and we’re seeing some of those companies locate here. We believe there’s a great opportunity for business services and technology sector companies. We just need to incentivize them more,” she added.Both Beshear and GLI hope that attracting businesses from different sectors will help fill empty office spaces in downtown Louisville. Another potential draw is a booming tourism industry.
Kentucky’s governor has plans to attract new businesses and retain existing ones as some major companies have left the area.
Gov. Andy Beshear spoke to city leaders in Louisville on Wednesday, about his ideas to boost Kentucky’s economy following the departure of KFC, Papa John’s and more.
“Our goal is to be with that next company that is going to lead their industry for generations to come,” Beshear said.
Beshear proposed making universal pre-K a reality in Kentucky, which he believes could add 70,000 people to the workforce.
He pointed to the success of universal pre-K in other states, both Democrat and Republican-led, as a pro-business initiative that supports employees and increases job applicants.
“This is pro-business. pre-K helps your employees, helps get people back earlier, helps make sure that you have more people that will apply for each and every one of those jobs,” Beshear said.
Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI), emphasized that while universal pre-K is important, expanding Kentucky’s business investment incentives is also crucial.
She noted that the state currently focuses heavily on incentivizing manufacturing companies, but GLI aims to broaden the scope to attract businesses from various sectors, including biotech, business services, and technology.
“So one of the things that we’ve been working on is expanding or working with the legislature to try to expand the Kentucky business investment incentives so that we can be more competitive when it comes to headquarter companies and business services and technology companies,” Davasher-Wisdom said.
“So there’s an incredible opportunity for biotech, and we’re seeing some of those companies locate here. We believe there’s a great opportunity for business services and technology sector companies. We just need to incentivize them more,” she added.
Both Beshear and GLI hope that attracting businesses from different sectors will help fill empty office spaces in downtown Louisville.
Another potential draw is a booming tourism industry.
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2025-06-11 22:36:00