Photo by Sam Greenhill.
COVINGTON, Ky. – Pardon our prideful peacocking, but important guests are in town and The Cov has a lot to show off: Capital investments, thousands of new jobs, robust talent and business attraction, and 23 acres of a once-in-a-generation, enviable opportunity.
More than 200 statewide economic developers, job creators, and policy makers from across the Commonwealth gather in Covington beginning today for the Kentucky Association for Economic Development’s annual Kentucky Forum. The event brings together KAED’s membership and esteemed panel speakers to celebrate Kentucky’s economic momentum and discuss strategies to accelerate job creation and amplify growth.
This week they’ll get an up-close look at Covington’s dynamic momentum.
“They will see the impact of the more than $200 million in private capital investment and nearly 5,000 new jobs in just three years,” said Covington Economic Development Director Tom West.
But West said the learning will go both ways.
“While economic development professionals from around the Commonwealth will get a first-hand look at the many ways Covington has invested in its future, our staff, more importantly, will have the opportunity to learn from others as we continuously improve to ensure that Covington remains the region’s destination for talent and business location,” he said.
The conference happens at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center at Madison Avenue and Rivercenter Boulevard. In addition to a walking tour, it will include a pre-conference reception at Second Story cocktail bar and a grand reception at Hotel Covington.
The forum’s panel boasts a dynamic lineup of speakers that includes Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, CVG CEO Candace McGraw, and top officials from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, including Sec. Jeff Noel and Commissioner Kristina Slattery. Other speakers represent the Kentucky League of Cities, the state General Assembly, state universities, economic think tanks, and more.
Local voices include West, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, meetNKY’s Julie Kirkpatrick, BE NKY’s Lee Crume, and others who will share insights into Covington’s – and the region’s – upward trajectory.
Session topics include workforce development, housing, entrepreneurship & innovation, local incentives, site selection, local tax reform, economic impact studies, technology, state strategic action plan, a project managers roundtable, and more.
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