On Friday, the planned BlueOvalSK Battery Park in Hardin County was named the Manufacturing Project of the Year by industry publication Area Development.
With the announcement, the publication issued Kentucky’s third Gold Shovel award in six years while recognizing Ford Motor Co. and SK Innovation’s $5.8 billion investment in Kentucky.
“This is a tremendous recognition for both the BlueOvalSK project and Kentucky,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This commitment by Ford and SK Innovation is at the center of our recent economic success and will continue to drive growth in central Kentucky and throughout the state for decades to come. BlueOvalSK is a game-changer in the commonwealth, and it is great to see others around the country recognize just how significant it really is.”
The battery park, to be located in Glendale, is expected to create 5,000 jobs, as the project stands as the largest investment and job-creation announcement in the commonwealth’s history.
In 2021, Kentucky set a new standard for economic success, the Beshear administration said, as private-sector new-location and expansion announcements totaled a record $11.2 billion in planned investments with commitments to create a record 18,000-plus full-time jobs across the coming years.
Kentucky received Area Development’s 2022 Gold Shovel award for states with populations between three million and five million. The commonwealth previously received the award in 2017 and 2018, as well as nine Silver Shovel awards since 2007.
Area Development’s annual Gold and Silver Shovel awards recognize states for their achievements in attracting high value-added investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs in their communities.
The awards are based on a combination of weighted factors, including the number of new jobs to be created in relation to the state’s population, the combined dollar amount of the investments, the number of new facilities and the diversity of industry represented, officials said.
Five states achieving the highest weighted overall scores are awarded Gold Shovels in five population categories: 12 million-plus, eight million to 12 million, five million to eight million, three million to five million and fewer than three million.
Runners-up in each of the categories are awarded Silver Shovels.
(Photo: BlueOvalSK Battery Park rendering courtesy of WDRB.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
