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Jan. 9, 2017 - Press Release from the Kentucky Association for Economic Development
New right-to-work law positions Kentucky as a top choice for businesses looking to grow and succeed
With right-to-work legislation passed and signed into law, Kentucky further distinguished itself as a top choice for new-business location and expansion. Governor Matt Bevin, who championed the pro-business legislation as a top priority of his 2015 campaign, signed House Bill 1 as a measure to help grow the economy, continue improving Kentucky's business climate and provide better jobs and wages for the state's residents.
By preventing union membership from being used as a condition of employment, the law gives employees at unionized workplaces the choice of whether or not to join and financially support collective-bargaining organizations.
Terry Gill, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, said the law puts Kentucky in the running for many more new-location projects and existing-business expansions.
"Right to work gives Kentucky another key advantage in attracting new jobs to the state," Sec. Gill said. "Site selection is a competitive process and without this law we've been passed over too often. Thanks to leadership and vision from the Governor and members of the General Assembly, we now enter a new era of economic opportunity."
Hal B. Goode, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development, called the new law a great step forward for Kentucky.
"Site selection consultants have told our KentuckyUnited partners that many projects are multi-market multi-state searches. These companies look for reasons to eliminate communities or states from their search list and right to work can play a significant role in their decision whether or not to consider a particular state," Goode said. "This step by Gov. Bevin and our legislators will improve Kentucky's ability to compete for projects."
In combination with its right-to-work status, Kentucky's cost of low housing, innovative workforce-training initiatives, industrial electricity prices nearly 20 percent lower than the national average, progressive financial incentive programs, and its ideal location within 600 miles of two-thirds of the U.S. population all make it a top choice for new business locations and expansions. Kentucky's location, as a gateway between the American South and Midwest and with easy access to the Northeast and Atlantic Seaboard, makes it an ideal place for establishing and growing a business.
The commonwealth's logistics and infrastructure advantages include 20 interstates and major highways, rail networks, barge traffic on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, six commercial airports and dozens of regional airports. The state's transportation network can move products easily and efficiently by air, rail, road and water to all points globally.
Kentucky ranks third nationally in air-cargo shipment volume, thanks to the UPS Worldport air hub and Centennial ground hub in Louisville, DHL Americas hub in Northern Kentucky and several large FedEx ground hubs throughout the state. This strong presence by the world's most prestigious logistics companies means products manufactured in Kentucky can get anywhere in the world virtually overnight.
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The members of KentuckyUnited promote the many advantages of doing business across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If your company or client is considering a new location or expansion, we encourage you to take a look at what Kentucky has to offer. Our highly qualified economic development team at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development can be your single point of contact for the duration of the site selection or expansion process. Begin your search with us today, and let Kentucky make your next location or expansion decision an easy one. Learn more at ThinkKentucky.com, by calling 1-800-626-2930 or emailing [email protected].
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KentuckyUnited e-mailed this press release today to over 2000 site selection consultants with whom they have shared the advantages of locating to Kentucky.
New right-to-work law positions Kentucky as a top choice for businesses looking to grow and succeed
With right-to-work legislation passed and signed into law, Kentucky further distinguished itself as a top choice for new-business location and expansion. Governor Matt Bevin, who championed the pro-business legislation as a top priority of his 2015 campaign, signed House Bill 1 as a measure to help grow the economy, continue improving Kentucky's business climate and provide better jobs and wages for the state's residents.
By preventing union membership from being used as a condition of employment, the law gives employees at unionized workplaces the choice of whether or not to join and financially support collective-bargaining organizations.
Terry Gill, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, said the law puts Kentucky in the running for many more new-location projects and existing-business expansions.
"Right to work gives Kentucky another key advantage in attracting new jobs to the state," Sec. Gill said. "Site selection is a competitive process and without this law we've been passed over too often. Thanks to leadership and vision from the Governor and members of the General Assembly, we now enter a new era of economic opportunity."
Hal B. Goode, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development, called the new law a great step forward for Kentucky.
"Site selection consultants have told our KentuckyUnited partners that many projects are multi-market multi-state searches. These companies look for reasons to eliminate communities or states from their search list and right to work can play a significant role in their decision whether or not to consider a particular state," Goode said. "This step by Gov. Bevin and our legislators will improve Kentucky's ability to compete for projects."
In combination with its right-to-work status, Kentucky's cost of low housing, innovative workforce-training initiatives, industrial electricity prices nearly 20 percent lower than the national average, progressive financial incentive programs, and its ideal location within 600 miles of two-thirds of the U.S. population all make it a top choice for new business locations and expansions. Kentucky's location, as a gateway between the American South and Midwest and with easy access to the Northeast and Atlantic Seaboard, makes it an ideal place for establishing and growing a business.
The commonwealth's logistics and infrastructure advantages include 20 interstates and major highways, rail networks, barge traffic on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, six commercial airports and dozens of regional airports. The state's transportation network can move products easily and efficiently by air, rail, road and water to all points globally.
Kentucky ranks third nationally in air-cargo shipment volume, thanks to the UPS Worldport air hub and Centennial ground hub in Louisville, DHL Americas hub in Northern Kentucky and several large FedEx ground hubs throughout the state. This strong presence by the world's most prestigious logistics companies means products manufactured in Kentucky can get anywhere in the world virtually overnight.
###
The members of KentuckyUnited promote the many advantages of doing business across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If your company or client is considering a new location or expansion, we encourage you to take a look at what Kentucky has to offer. Our highly qualified economic development team at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development can be your single point of contact for the duration of the site selection or expansion process. Begin your search with us today, and let Kentucky make your next location or expansion decision an easy one. Learn more at ThinkKentucky.com, by calling 1-800-626-2930 or emailing [email protected].
###
KentuckyUnited e-mailed this press release today to over 2000 site selection consultants with whom they have shared the advantages of locating to Kentucky.
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