When a local foundation first envisioned the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park in the 1960’s, critics wondered why it was being built in Boone County on farm land “in the middle of nowhere,” said Ken Schmidt, Chair of the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park Managers Association.
Critics did not foresee the economic and population boom that was to follow, led by modern transportation expansion including Interstates 71 and 75 and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, all just minutes away from the Florence-based park.
Fast forward to today. Northern Kentucky is part of the state’s so-called Golden Triangle, along with Lexington and Louisville, which drives the state’s economic and innovative spirit.
In the past several decades, Northern Kentucky has consistently been among the fastest growing areas of the state, and the region continually strives to be a great place to live and do business.
The school systems are good and accessibility is good. Cincinnati is 15 to 20 minutes away, where you can find major league activities [like the Cincinnati Bengals and the Reds] as well as the Florence Freedom minor league baseball team.
The Northern Kentucky Industrial Park has been – and remains – a large part of that growth. Today there are 217 companies located on the nearly 45-acre site that includes parts of Elsmere and Independence in neighboring Kenton County. It accommodates a diverse range of business sectors including manufacturers, distributors and auto parts suppliers. Current tenants include Kellogg’s, Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions, Aristech Acrylics, Mazak and Insight Communications. The park is home to 14,000 workers who contribute to an annual payroll of $405 million.
The park is a proven place where companies can flourish and grow. In fact, some companies have done so well that they’ve had to relocate to nearby areas.
“Some companies expanded so big that there was not enough land in the park for them. Levi’s distribution is one example, they grew out of the park but are still in the area,” said Schmidt, also President of BAWAC, Inc, a non-profit vocational rehab center that helps people with disabilities excel in their careers in areas including manufacturing, which is why they, too, operate in the Industrial Park.
However, many companies have grown and remain in the Park; a few recent success stories include:
Mubea – an automobile parts manufacturer recently expanded.
Sweco – An international company, which makes oil drilling equipment, just moved their national headquarters to the Park.
Ticona –Another international company, which specializes in the use of engineering resins, moved their American headquarters and research and development center to the Park.
Writers: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Ken Schmidt. Chair of NKIP
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