Business Facilities magazine gave Kentucky top rankings for being a national leader for job growth and business development.

Kentucky received top 10 rankings in three industry categories: food processing, automotive and EV investment. In a news release celebrating the rankings, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said it was further recognition of the state’s economic momentum.

“Kentucky’s surging economy is a result of the efforts by each individual community, city, county and region working together for the immediate and long-term success of the commonwealth," Beshear said. "That’s what Team Kentucky is all about. These rankings and recognitions are well-deserved and further establish our state as a prime location for companies to locate, expand and find success.”

Beshear’s office said Kentucky is home to more than 430 food and beverage production facilities that employ more than 58,000 people across the state. The automotive sector includes more than 550 operations that employ 103,000-plus Kentuckians. Beshear said electric vehicle growth has been a “major contributor” to the automotive industry’s success, with more than $11.7 billion announced in investments for EV-related projects and more than 10,280 new jobs.

Several Kentucky communities were also recognized in the publication’s 20th annual Metro Rankings Report. Lexington placed in the top 10 for “Best Business Climate for large metros” and the Cincinnati/northern Kentucky region ranked in the top 10 for “Best Business Climate of mid-size metros.” Cincinnati/northern Kentucky was also recognized as a “Tech Talent Leader” among communities with a small labor pool, placing fourth in their top 15 list.

Louisville and Cincinnati/northern Kentucky were recognized in Business Facilities’ 2024 Metro Rankings for Manufacturing Hubs and Logistics Leaders. The Cincinnati/northern Kentucky region ranked in the top 10 of the publication’s small manufacturing hubs list, while Louisville came in the top 3 for the Logistics Leaders category, which evaluates existing infrastructure and strategic location, as well as recent and planned improvements in the region.

Beshear said the continued economic development success builds on what he called the “best four-year period for economic growth in state history.”