FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted continued momentum of the commonwealth’s site development efforts as he announced a new regional Build-Ready location in Henderson County, positioning the area for future economic success and job creation.
The new Build-Ready site, located in the 4-Star Regional Industrial Park in Robards, adds to the state’s growing list of properties certified by the Cabinet for Economic Development as Build-Ready and offers the largest graded Build-Ready-certified building pad in the commonwealth at over 1.1 million square feet. It is a regional project with support from Henderson, McLean, Union and Webster counties. The site was also previously approved in June 2023 for $1.4 million in state funding through the Kentucky Product Development Initiative to complete a site grading plan at the site.
“Our state’s Build-Ready program has grown significantly over the last several years, and I’m excited to see that momentum continue in Henderson County as we announce the largest Build-Ready site in the commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “One of the biggest draws to Kentucky for growing companies is our commitment to site development, and a collaboration like this in Western Kentucky is a prime example of what makes Team Kentucky great. I want to congratulate Henderson County on its new Build-Ready site and look forward to what new investment and job creation it will bring to Kentucky.”
The site includes over 100 acres zoned for heavy industrial use, the largest graded Build-Ready site in the state at more than 1.1 million square feet and an additional 150,000-square-foot graded building pad. Utilities include a four-inch gas line, 10-inch sewer line and 18-inch waterline. The property includes electric service provided by Kenergy Corp. and natural gas provided by Atmos Energy Corp. and Texas Gas Transmission Corp. The site is also serviced with fiber for telecommunications.
Henderson County Judge/Executive Brad Schneider spoke on the significance of the project: “The new Build-Ready pad at 4-Star Industrial Park is truly a huge step forward for all four counties as we seek the next company to call Northwest Kentucky its new home. A huge thanks to the 4-Star Board of Directors, the team at Henderson Economic Development, Hazex Construction and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development for forming the partnership that brought this project to fruition. I am certain we’ll see the ultimate benefit of this effort very soon.”
McLean County Judge/Executive Curtis Dame mentioned the economic success the site will bring: “McLean County’s recent economic development successes are a testament to the power of cooperation and teamwork. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the 4-Star Regional partnership, working together to create a thriving and prosperous economic opportunity for our region. Together, we, as a region, can accomplish much!”
Webster County Judge/Executive Steve Henry explained the large scope of the project: “Because of the efforts of the 4-Star Board of Directors and staff, this site has ascended to one of Kentucky’s most premier economic development locations. As the work progresses toward the new I-69 bridge, a site this size will only garner more national attention. It’s time now for Western Kentucky to have the same exposure to growth that we have seen in other areas of Kentucky.”
Henderson Economic Development Executive Director Missy Vanderpool thanked the entities that brought the site to fruition: “The completion of this project was truly a collaborative effort. Thank you to the 4-Star Board of Directors, Hazex, MSE Engineering, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Fiscal Courts of Henderson, Union, Webster and McLean counties. This site, featuring an impressive 1,162,500-square-foot Build-Ready pad, offers unparalleled opportunities for industrial development. Its proactive preparation eliminates many hurdles and accelerates project timelines, making it an ideal location for companies looking to expand or establish new operations. We are thrilled to offer this prime location to prospective companies and look forward to the economic growth and job creation it will bring to our region. This development reaffirms Northwest Kentucky’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment and supporting industrial growth.”
With a Build-Ready site, much of the work – aside from construction – has already been completed. That includes controlling the land to be developed, completing archaeological, environmental and geotechnical studies, constructing a building pad, finishing preliminary design work, obtaining approved site plan permits and putting necessary infrastructure in place. On a Build-Ready site, construction can begin immediately.
To be certified as Build-Ready, a site must include a pad that can accommodate a building of 50,000 square feet, with the ability to expand to 100,000 square feet or more, and utilities extending to the site. Applicants – usually a city, county or economic development group – must have previously filed the necessary permits, as well as preliminary building plans, cost estimates and schedule projections. Applicants also are asked to provide a rendering of a potential building for the site.
Including the new site in Henderson County, the commonwealth is home to 23 available Build-Ready sites. Multiple other locations across the state are currently working toward certification.
To date, 12 former Build-Ready-certified sites – including tracts located in Barren, Butler, Christian, Graves, Hart, Laurel and Pulaski counties and five sites in Warren County – have been selected by companies for new location projects, allowing companies to bring their operations online in a cost-efficient manner while creating jobs for local Kentuckians.
The new Build-Ready site in Henderson County builds on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $32 billion in announced investments, creating nearly 55,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in 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 INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, and Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Kentucky’s credit outlook from stable to positive.
In 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.
For more information on Build-Ready sites in Kentucky, visit CED.ky.gov/BuildReady.
A detailed community profile for Henderson County can be viewed here.
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