Local Stories
Tiana Watkins
General Manager, Waters Edge Winery & Bistro “My father has always dreamed of owning a restaurant, and I had recently graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration but had yet to find a job I loved. We combined his dream with my education with the help of a family friend from Hardin County who knew…
Andrea Haire
Detective, Elizabethtown Police Department “I was born and raised here in Elizabethtown. I attended Western Kentucky University and earned a degree in Criminology. Upon graduation, I was hired as the first Victim Advocate for the Hardin County Attorney’s Office. I worked two years in this position before I decided to join the Elizabethtown Police Department.…
John Lewis
Owner & Bourbon Connoisseur, John O’s Liquor In 2012 John Lewis opened John O’s Liquor when Elizabethtown went wet for the first time. John’s always up for a challenge and started planning early on in the process to be ready to open when Hardin County went wet. His business background experience has a stronghold in…
Todd and Cameron Davis
Owners, Bluegrass Sportsplex and The Assembly Todd Davis’ father, Rick, dreamed of opening an indoor sports facility for over 30 years. His dream came to fruition in 2018 when he and Todd opened Bluegrass Sportsplex together. The business began with an indoor soccer complex that has morphed into the premier indoor sports and events venue…
Jeff Gregory
Mayor, City of Elizabethtown I am a born and raised third-generation Elizabethtown resident. I love Elizabethtown and Hardin County. This community has given so much to me and my extended family, and I can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else. My career as a Kentucky State Trooper has allowed me to see other communities all…
Greg Milby
Community Storyteller, Kentucky’s Heartland “Every community has a storyteller who always knows about the great things going on around town. You go to them to see what special event is next or to hear a recap of the latest happenings. They seem to be everywhere and are always sharing the good news of others making…
Justin Howard
Insurance Broker, Houchens Insurance Group “I began my insurance career while attending Western Kentucky University; while there, I was in an interim role with Northwestern Mutual and began obtaining my insurance licenses. I have since been in the industry for over 13 years and am celebrating my 10th year as a broker with Houchens Insurance…
Megan Stith
Chief Institutional Advancement Officer, Elizabethtown Community & Technical College “My grandfather was the son of Macedonian immigrants and worked as a repairman while my father continued his education to become a doctor. My dad completely changed the future for our family, and I want to help others achieve their goals through the opportunities ECTC provides.…
Dr. Juston Pate
President & CEO, Elizabethtown Community & Technical College “I wanted to do something with a career that would make a difference, and it became clear that the community college was a way to make that happen. When I left high school, I was not a good student. It wasn’t until I enrolled at Southeast Community…
Janna Clark
Executive Director, Elizabethtown Tourism & Convention Bureau Connecting with people has always been my passion. I grew up in Northeast Arkansas, moved to Central Kentucky for a job after grad school, and never looked back. While Elizabethtown isn’t my hometown, this town has my heart. When speaking to local audiences about my role as the…
In The News
Economic report shows new battery park will have major impact on Hardin County
Original appeared on SPECTRUM NEWS 1 | September 25, 2023 (VIDEO) ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — The Hardin County Chamber of Commerce released an economic impact study last week to get an understanding of the long-term effects the BlueOval SK Battery Park will have on the county. The plant is slated to generate 5,000 new jobs and will…
Continue Reading Economic report shows new battery park will have major impact on Hardin County
Officials putting economic impact study to action
Originally appeared in The News-Enterprise | September 20, 2023 Highlights of the study to determine the economic impact of BlueOval SK on Hardin County were released last month and the full report now is available for public consumption. With that comes time for action on the study’s recommendations by local officials and leaders as they…
Continue Reading Officials putting economic impact study to action
Korean Company Forms BlueOval Spinoff In Radcliff | Business
Originally appeared in Fior Reports | August 12, 2023 An international company has signed a contract and acquired land with the intention of establishing an industry in Radcliff that will serve BlueOval SK. Woowon Tech, a South Korean company that recycles and finishes the blades used to cut products needed in the manufacture of electric…
Continue Reading Korean Company Forms BlueOval Spinoff In Radcliff | Business
Governor, BlueOval SK officials tour $5.8B twin battery plant construction
Originally appeared in The Lane Report | August 9, 2023 GLENDALE, Ky. — As the second battery plant begins to take shape and hiring hourly-workers has begun for the 5,000 jobs being created at the two plants, Gov. Andy Beshear today joined BlueOval SK executives to tour BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale. Progress has continued…
Continue Reading Governor, BlueOval SK officials tour $5.8B twin battery plant construction
BlueOval SK starting to hire for battery park in Glendale
Originally appeared in The News-Enterprise | August 1, 2023 The largest economic development in Kentucky’s history creating 5,000 new jobs is starting to hire for some of them. BlueOval SK is hiring production operators and maintenance technicians at its battery park in Glendale. Pay for the jobs starts at $21 an hour and can go…
Continue Reading BlueOval SK starting to hire for battery park in Glendale
Ford, BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky to start hiring workers at $21+ starting wages
Originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal | July 31, 2023 As Kentucky continues its rise as the electric vehicle, EV, battery production capital of the U.S., BlueOval SK Battery Park, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and SK On, has officially started hiring for hourly positions. According to a release from BlueOval SK, starting wages at the plant in Glendale,…
BlueOval SK’s huge EV battery plant in Hardin County opens up big opportunities — and tough tests
Originally appeared in Louisville Business First | July 7, 2023 Aron Csont says the massive project he’s a part of is not only big in scope — but technical in nature. “On the outside, it’s an automotive plant. But on the inside, it’s almost like a lab. You’re building it to the specs of a…
Economic Engine of Kentucky: Greater Louisville Is Just Getting Started
Original appeared on Lane Report | June 12, 2023 Regional cooperation leverages diverse assets at the heart of Kentucky’s accelerating economy By Mark Green Greater Louisville, the economic engine of Kentucky, is undergoing infusions of modern technology, investment and ideas that are creating growth like never before. It’s further good news for a state already on its…
Continue Reading Economic Engine of Kentucky: Greater Louisville Is Just Getting Started
Coming home: E’town native to lead BlueOval SK plant
Originally Published The News-Enterprise | May 24, 2023 GINA CLEAR/The News-Enterprise Elizabethtown native Ryan Wheeler will lead the second of two plants at BlueOval SK in Glendale. The Ford Motor Co. employee will oversee operations at Kentucky 2, where batteries will be made to power Ford and Lincoln next generation of electric vehicles. Ryan Wheeler,…
Continue Reading Coming home: E’town native to lead BlueOval SK plant
ECTC, BlueOval SK, Ford break ground on EV battery training center
Originally Published The Lane Report | April 26, 2023 Hardin County, state, Ford and SK On officials for the groundbreaking of a 42,000-s.f. EV battery training center on the campus of BlueOvalSK Battery Park in Glendale, Ky. Twin facilities under construction will employ 5,000 starting in 2025. GLENDALE, Ky. — With the steel framing of the…
Continue Reading ECTC, BlueOval SK, Ford break ground on EV battery training center