Gov. Andy Beshear has been touting "an economy on fire" in recent months, as Kentucky has landed a series of major economic development projects — headlined by the massive $5.8 billion Ford battery plants in Hardin County, expected to create 5,000 new jobs.
According to data from the Cabinet for Economic Development, companies have already announced $10.3 billion of new and expanded facilities investment in Kentucky this year — $1.5 billion more than the previous annual record in 2017.
The cabinet anticipates the 2021 projects will create about 15,500 new jobs, also approaching the previous record for announced projects set in 2016.
Here is a look at 10 of the largest economic development projects landed by Kentucky in 2021, in terms of announced future investment or jobs created:
1. Ford (Hardin County)
Ford's $5.8 billion investment, with its business partner SK Innovation, in a new electric vehicle battery park in tiny Glendale is projected to create 5,000 new jobs, with potential ripple effects throughout the state. It is easily the largest single investment by a company in the state's history.
More:Ford is betting big on electric vehicles. Why that could pay off huge for Kentucky
2. GE Appliances (Jefferson County)
GE Appliances in October announced plans to invest another $450 million at its sprawling Appliance Park complex in Louisville, creating over 1,000 new jobs.
3. Toyota (Scott County)
Toyota plans to invest another $461 million in its Georgetown operation to create a new advanced vehicle production line. The company says it will offer about 1,400 team members who work there, but are technically employed by an outside firm, the opportunity to work directly for the automaker instead.
Kentucky's economic hot streak:What it means for Gov. Andy Beshear and the commonwealth
4. Tyson Foods (Warren County)
Tyson Foods announced plans in October to build a new $355 million bacon-making facility in Bowling Green, which will create about 450 new jobs.
5. Pratt Paper (Henderson County)
Pratt Paper announced plans in July to invest $400 million in the construction of a new paper mill in Henderson, creating 321 full-time jobs.
6. Ball Corp. (Warren County)
Ball Corp. announced plans in January to invest $305 million in the construction of a Bowling Green facility to manufacture recyclable aluminum ends for the company’s beverage can customers, projected to create 198 new jobs.
More:Kentucky and Tennessee lavished incentives on Ford for new factories. Will it pay off?
7. Wieland North America (Shelby County)
Wieland North America Inc. announced plans in May to invest $100 million in a new copper and copper-alloy recycling facility in Shelby County and create 75 jobs, with plans to invest up to $250 million and increase to 225 jobs over the next 15 years. The company also announced plans this year to locate its headquarters in Louisville with a $8.8 million investment and 75 new jobs.
8. Nucor Corp. (Gallatin County)
Nucor Corp. announced plans in March to build a $164 million, 396,000-square-foot steel tube mill near Ghent, projected to create 72 full-time jobs.
9. Kentuckiana Curb Co. (Shelby County)
Kentuckiana Curb Co. announced in April it would invest $60 million on a new manufacturing facility for commercial HVAC products in Simpsonville, with plans to create 700 new jobs.
10. Community Wellness Technology (Boyle County)
Telehealth company Community Wellness Technology Inc. announced in September a $3 million investment for a new facility in Danville, projected to create 445 jobs in the coming years, including clinical health coaches, patient support staff and IT roles.
Reporter Morgan Watkins contributed to this story.
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