Alltech

" I love doing my part to help feed the world.  And I love doing it in Kentucky."
Armed with a doctorate in yeast fermentation, I left Ireland a quarter-century ago and headed straight for Kentucky. I founded Alltech in Nicholasville, fully intending to devote my career working among the state’s legendary bourbon distilleries. But Kentucky took my business in new directions.

I gradually transitioned Alltech from supplying the fuel and beverage alcohol industry to developing high-tech animal feed products. Our expertise in fermentation and enzymes now focuses on maximizing nutrition and minimizing waste throughout the global food chain. Annual revenues have passed $400 million, and we continue to grow.

Alltech is part of an increasingly vital biotech industry in Kentucky, thanks in part to the Cabinet for Economic Development. Its leaders not only agreed to help finance our one-of-a-kind, $11 million Center for Animal Nutrigenomics and Applied Animal Nutrition, they have been accessible, creative and energetic at every step. With such positive energy, you can move mountains.

We’ve also been delighted with the innovators we’ve found in Kentucky. Excellent universities and a strong work ethic are major factors. Finally, Kentucky is an incredibly beautiful place to live. But then, I suppose I’ve always had a fondness for lush green hills!

Dr. Pearse Lyons
Founder and President
Alltech

North American Stainless

" Other states might forget you once they get you there.  In Kentucky it's only the beginning."
In 1990, parent company, Acerinox S.A., was scouting a site for a new stainless steel production plant. We needed to be near our major customers, linked by a variety of transportation options, with a direct line to lots of electricity.

Kentucky found us a large tract of land on the Ohio River, next to a power plant, halfway between two major airports, with easy access to Interstate 71 and existing rail service. Then they cinched the deal with progressive tax incentives and revenue bonds.

The result is the $1.7 billion, 1200-employee North American Stainless plant – the largest Spanish investment in the United States.

Best of all, Kentucky continues to tell us “can do” even now. Its programs have enabled us to get workers trained in Spain and provided recycling tax credits that made a giant new melting furnace feasible. Kentucky was working for us up front, and they’re still working for us after all of these years.

Mary Jean Riley
Vice President of Finance & Administration
North American Stainless

Toyota

" Kentucky has proven time and again that it will do what it takes to keep Toyota strong."
In the late 1980s, when Toyota located its assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, the company saw much more than a charming community in Middle America blessed with low energy costs. Toyota also saw the skill, dedication, and hard work of Kentucky’s people.

Our vision has been proven right. This plant has won more J.D. Power quality awards than any other auto assembly plant in the world, and we’re always raising the bar. With this team’s passion for quality, Georgetown is now the mother plant for Toyota operations in three other locales. It’s also the only North American Toyota plant making hybrids.

As a Detroit native with more than 30 years of automaking under my belt, I’ve seen the inside of a lot of different assembly plants. I can honestly say this team (7,000 members at last count) can’t be beat. Their efforts have made the Toyota Camry the bestselling car in America year after year, as well as the 2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Kentucky government is just as dedicated.

Whether it’s through tax credits, educational initiatives or simply a can-do spirit, Kentucky has proven time and time again that it will do what it takes to keep Toyota strong. Thanks, Kentucky, for providing the fuel we need to keep on growing.

Steve St. Angelo
Chairman, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky
and Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America

UPS

" Kentucky works hard to see that we have what we need to grow."
UPS Worldport can sort more than 300,000 packages an hour at its air hub here in Louisville. By the time our 4 million square-foot facility finishes its second massive expansion in June 2009, sorting capacity will grow to nearly 500,000.

But we do a lot more than ship packages and documents. Much of our growth has been in the supply-chain solutions side of the business. Companies simply hand their logistics needs over to us, and we take care of them.

Our hub has thrived in Kentucky, a business-friendly state that’s ripe with economic opportunity. The mild climate means our operations are rarely interrupted. We’re at the far western edge of the Eastern time zone, giving us maximum flexibility to serve both coasts – and the rest of the world. Quality of life is high and stress is low.

To top it off, the state of Kentucky has worked closely with us to ensure that we have the space, the workforce, and the tax structure we need to grow. Our partnership with Kentucky adds up to one great package.

Bob Lekites
Vice President for Airline and International Operations
UPS

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