The South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council focuses on supporting economic growth across Christian, Todd and Trigg Counties. Council Executive Director Carter Hendricks provided an update concerning industry developments and the council’s goals at Tuesday’s Hopkinsville Rotary Club meeting.
Over the past few years, Hendricks says the three-county region has had an increase in jobs, tourism revenue and investments from manufacturers developing local facilities. The job increase is expected to continue as over 2,000 new jobs are set to come to the region.
One of the companies set to bring some of those jobs is battery materials manufacturer, Ascend Elements. Ground was broken on Ascend Elements’ Apex 1 Facility in Commerce Park II in 2022, but construction has since paused. One of the reasons for the pause was to allow the facility’s design to be completed.
Ascend Elements was also served with a joint lawsuit from Turner Construction Company and Kokosing Industrial, Inc. in December 2024, alleging that they were owed $138.4 million for work done and materials delivered. However, in May, it was determined that the companies would undergo arbitration to settle the lawsuit.
Hendricks says Apex 1 is nearly 65% built, and construction is expected to resume toward the end of the year or in early 2026. Once construction continues, Ascend Elements will resume hiring and is set to have 400 full-time positions. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Cinis Fertilizer, a Swedish company, is also set to come to Commerce Park II, but Hendricks says their operations depends on the completion of the Apex 1 Facility. Cinis Fertilizer is set to recycle waste salt from Ascend Elements to produce fertilizer. The production plant will create 65 new jobs.
Ground was broken on Toyota Boshoku Western Kentucky in October 2023, and Hendricks says the company is hiring workers, and on December 9, they are set to host a grand opening. The automotive parts manufacturer is set to have around 160 employees.
In November 2024, the Christian County Spec Building was sold and Kitchen Food Company, an Australian-based company that makes ready-to-eat meals, is moving in. The company is set to create 925 new jobs. Hendricks says the company will be fully operational in 2026.
Hendricks also spotlighted the council’s goals for 2030. In the next five years, Hendricks says they hope to create 2,500 new jobs, increase entry-level wages to $22, secure over $3 billion in capital investments and have over $20 million in grants for product development and land acquisition.
The council also has the goal of recruiting at least one new company from the following target sectors: automotive, agriculture, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, chemical production and logistics and distribution.
While focusing on growing the region’s job force, the council is taking residential development because it also impacts economic growth. Hendricks says they plan to support companies that are financing and constructing new homes.
Council members approved the 5-year strategic plan at their July meeting.