News and Media from Eastern Kentucky
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Economic development is a long-term process, and the team at One East Kentucky worked hard through 2025 to lay the foundation for increased business investment and growth in the coming years. A lot has happened in the past 12 months, but each meeting, planning session, and ribbon-cutting ceremony paved the...
Martin County Downtown Revitalization Efforts Invest in the Community While Creating a New Tourism Industry
Dec 16 2025Breathing life into a community is no easy feat. There are countless tasks that most residents never see or appreciate (like improving water and sewer systems), but are essential to support growth and development.However, Martin County, Kentucky, is taking steps toward improvement through community collaboration. Countless groups have worked together...
Kentucky has an opportunity to create brighter futures in counties with the highest rates of unemployment and poverty, while simultaneously making it easier for the state to rebound from economic shockwaves. Kentucky currently has a two-tier system for economic development tax incentives. If it expands to a four-tier model, it...
Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) has been invaluable in securing funding to develop sites that will attract businesses to the region. The state allocated $35 million per fiscal year in the last biennial budget, and the counties supported by One East Kentucky have received more than $9 million since the...
The communities of Eastern Kentucky have plans for the future. Each of the counties and cities represented by One East Kentucky is working to attract residents, increase job opportunities, and modernize local economies. The City of Hazard is leading the way, and its business development efforts are paying off.“We keep...
One East Kentucky Works With ResearchFDI to Generate Business Attraction LeadsBusiness attraction is one of the top goals of One East Kentucky, as new business in the region creates employment opportunities and fosters a diverse economy. ResearchFDI, an investment attraction firm, streamlines the business recruitment process through lead generation. This...
The local metal industry continues to grow thanks to the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. As of 2025, there are more than 250 metals-related businesses in the state that employ 36,000 people. As more metal companies move here, they are drawn to Eastern Kentucky because of...
Business attraction is one of the key goals of One East Kentucky. The region has a strong workforce and ample natural resources in a key location in the United States – it just needs someone to promote this hidden gem. Colby Kirk, President and CEO of One East Kentucky, attended...
One East Kentucky (OEK) supports nine counties and is based on the idea that economic development doesn’t stop at specific county lines. A new business or education resource in one county can elevate the entire region. OEK works with countless local economic development partners throughout the year but is also...
The nine-county One East Kentucky region is home to 7,500 available workers and their families. Companies moving to the region can take advantage of a skilled workforce ready to go to work, and they can also rest assured knowing that the workforce of tomorrow can attend local universities and participate...
The following is a reflection from Colby Kirk, President & CEO of One East Kentucky, on the potential impact of tariffs in the region. As a lifelong resident of Eastern Kentucky and a leader in economic development, he has a clear understanding of how federal tariffs could be good and...
2025 Kicks Off the ‘New Kentucky Home’ Initiative to Support Tourism and Economic Development
Jan 13 2025Residents of Eastern Kentucky can expect an uptick in tourists this year through a new campaign developed by the Cabinet for Economic Development and Governor Andy Beshear. The initiative, “My New Kentucky Home,” pairs tourism investment with long-term economic development strategies. When people visit Kentucky, they can fall in love...