"To view the Governor’s Team Kentucky Update, ""click here" [ [link removed] ]". "

Kentucky State Seal

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR








*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*




*Contact:  *

 

*Scottie Ellis
502-401-6933*
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>






Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update
   

*FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2025)* – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided updates on economic development, a new speed to market initiative, the Mountain Parkway Expansion, railroad grants, Overdose Awareness Day and Violence Against Women Act grant funding. The Governor also spoke on yesterday’s events in Minneapolis and recognized those who work to protect our children, teachers and school staff as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.

*Economic Development*
Gov. Beshear announced that Vsimple Inc., a leading AI company that specializes in improving operational inefficiencies for mid- to large-sized companies, will relocate its headquarters from Southern Indiana to Louisville with a $5.1 million investment that will create 194 well-paying, Kentucky jobs. Today, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman will join local officials in Louisville and leadership from the company to celebrate the announcement.

The Governor announced [ [link removed] ] that production of electric vehicle batteries officially began Aug. 19 in Glendale at the BlueOval SK Battery Park, the largest economic investment and jobs announcement in state history. The production milestone comes after the September 2021 announcement, where the Governor and company leaders celebrated the transformative $5.8 billion investment by Ford Motor Co. and SK On that is set to create 5,000 jobs – 1,450 of which are already filled.

Gov. Beshear also highlighted [ [link removed] ] new momentum within the state’s workforce development initiatives, positioning communities around Kentucky for future economic success. Nearly 2,300 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to support provided through the Bluegrass State Skills Corp., which oversees programs attached to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development that help private-sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.

*Speed to Market Initiative*
Gov. Beshear announced a new tool that builds on Team Kentucky’s commitment to speed to market for businesses of any size with speedtomarket.ky.gov [ [link removed] ], a one stop shop for anyone looking to start a business, expand or relocate in Kentucky. The site includes information on financial incentives, resources by industry, guidance on tax information, licenses and permits, insurance needs and more.

“Team Kentucky is committed to helping businesses get up and running fast, effectively and with confidence,” said Gov. Beshear. “I’m proud to announce we’re building on that commitment by sharing another tool we’ve created for potential businesses looking to make this their New Kentucky Home.”

*Mountain Parkway Expansion*
Last week, Gov. Beshear joined [ [link removed] ] local, state and federal officials to break ground on the final section of the Mountain Parkway Expansion – a 13-mile stretch of new four-lane highway that will connect Salyersville in Magoffin County to Prestonsburg in Floyd County.

The final segment, known as Magoffin-Floyd, is the last of six project segments to go to construction on the 45-mile, billion-dollar Mountain Parkway Expansion. The project is delivering a decades-long promise to complete the parkway and close the only remaining gap in a continuous, four-lane, high-speed corridor linking Eastern Kentucky to the rest of the commonwealth.

*Railroad Grants*
The Governor announced [ [link removed] ] $7.5 million in state grants to support six Kentucky railway infrastructure improvement projects. Projects will fund the replacement and rehabilitation of over 30 miles of rail, renew an additional 53 miles of track surface, provide critical maintenance to a lift bridge, and more, ultimately supporting and encouraging economic growth.

*Overdose Awareness Day*
The Governor signed a proclamation [ [link removed] ] recognizing Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in the commonwealth. Following efforts by Team Kentucky and community partners to keep dangerous drugs off the streets, reduce the stigma around asking for help, and ensure there are treatment options in every community, the commonwealth has seen three straight years of decline in overdose deaths. The Governor was joined by Tara Hyde, CEO of People Advocating Recovery and a survivor of addiction, who shared the importance of eliminating barriers to recovery.

“Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember those we have lost, honor their families, and stand with those still struggling,” said Gov. Beshear. “I want to thank all the recovery advocates across the state. Together, we are building a New Kentucky Home – where we have more resources to fight addiction and our communities are safer. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we still have more to do. One life lost to overdose is too many.”

During the Update, Gov. Beshear also announced that Boyd, Carter, Clay, Greenup, Letcher and Owsley counties have each been certified as Recovery Ready Communities [ [link removed] ] for their commitment to providing residents with access to addiction treatment and recovery support and removing barriers to the workforce. A total of 31 counties in the commonwealth are now certified as Recovery Ready Communities for having established services available for more than 1.7 million Kentuckians who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction.

If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357). Information about treatment programs is available at FindHelpNowKy.org [ [link removed] ]. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as at FindNaloxoneNow.ky.gov [ [link removed] ].

*Violence Against Women Act Grant Funding*
Gov. Beshear announced [ [link removed] ] that applications are now available for more than $2 million in federal funding through the Violence Against Women Act to help prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking in the commonwealth.

“Domestic violence is something no one should ever have to go through,” said Gov. Beshear. “From providing survivors and their families with the resources they need to rebuild their lives to tackling the root issues of violence in our communities, I am going to keep fighting for the inches that become the miles of progress until we reach our goal of building that safer Kentucky we all want.”

*Team Kentucky All-Stars*
Today, Team Kentucky released the annual school safety report [ [link removed] ], highlighting progress the commonwealth is making to ensure safer public schools. The report shows that 1,315 Kentucky public schools are following state-mandated security requirements, including electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom-window coverings and a threat-assessment team. The Governor announced that the commonwealth currently has 842 school resource officers guarding public schools every day, a 104% increase since the beginning of the Beshear-Coleman administration.

The Governor also recognized the horrific act of violence that took place in Minneapolis yesterday, where a shooting during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school took the lives of at least 2 children and injured 17 others.

“Every American child should be able to be safe and feel safe in their schools. And no parent should ever have to go through the pain and suffering these parents – and so many like them – have faced,” said Gov. Beshear. “While today’s All-Stars is a tough one, it’s an important one to recognize: all those who show up every day to protect our kids, our teachers, school staff and everyone at our public schools. Let’s keep standing up for the safety of our children and our fellow Americans.”

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