It’s a good time to be job hunting in Derby City.

The Louisville Metro area was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. for job growth in September, according to a report from payroll and HR platform Gusto, with a 2.5% increase.

That mark was a full percentage point higher than the second second-fastest growing city, Virginia Beach, Virginia, which saw 1.5% job growth, according to the report. The top five was rounded out by Indianapolis (1.1%), Richmond, Virginia (1.1%) and Cincinnati (1%). Louisville Business First

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Following a banner year for Kentucky tourism in 2022. The state broke an all-time record in 2023, with nine new tourism development projects set to generate an estimated $301.2 million in economic investment. These projects are also expected to create 628 jobs once operational.

This year marks the most projects granted final approval in a single year by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority since the tourism incentive was created in 1996. Today’s news furthers recent tourism growth as last year. The state saw the best year on record for tourism, with nearly $13 million in economic impact and 91,668 jobs. In 2022, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail also surpassed 2 million visitors for the first time ever, setting a new record. The Lane Report

Louisville Gas and Electric Co. and Kentucky Utilities Co. are moving forward on a multibillion dollar plan to become more energy efficient.

The utilities received approval this week from the Kentucky Public Service Commission to retire two aging coal generation units and build a new natural gas combined-cycle generation unit at its Mill Creek Generation Station, located on 544 acres in southwest Jefferson County, according to a news release. The commission also approved 1,000 megawatts of solar energy and battery storage.

LG&E and KU are expected to invest $2.1 billion in the project, Vice President of Communications and Corporate Responsibility Chris Whelan told Business First. The utilities have yet to receive approval from the commission for the investment, she said, and there is no timetable to make the request. Louisville Business First

It’s a good time to be job hunting in Derby City.

The Louisville Metro area was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. for job growth in September, according to a report from payroll and HR platform Gusto, with a 2.5% increase.

That mark was a full percentage point higher than the second second-fastest growing city, Virginia Beach, Virginia, which saw 1.5% job growth, according to the report. The top five was rounded out by Indianapolis (1.1%), Richmond, Virginia (1.1%) and Cincinnati (1%).

But what may be even better news for area workers is that salaries for new hires are increasing.

Salaries for new hires in Louisville grew 11% in September, according to the report, good for the third-fastest growth in the U.S., behind Buffalo (15%) and Jacksonville (12%). Washington D.C. (11%) and St. Louis (10%) finished No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. Louisville Business First

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Following a banner year for Kentucky tourism in 2022. The state broke an all-time record in 2023, with nine new tourism development projects set to generate an estimated $301.2 million in economic investment. These projects are also expected to create 628 jobs once operational.

This year marks the most projects granted final approval in a single year by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority since the tourism incentive was created in 1996. Today’s news furthers recent tourism growth as last year. The state saw the best year on record for tourism, with nearly $13 million in economic impact and 91,668 jobs. In 2022, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail also surpassed 2 million visitors for the first time ever, setting a new record. The Lane Report

BlueOval SK will open a new executive office space in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

The approximately 51,000-square-foot facility, located at 2323 Ring Road, will also serve as a recruiting center for applicants interested in working at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky, according to a news release.

BlueOval is a joint venture between Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and SKOn. The company is building two massive battery plants in Glendale, which will produce batteries for future Ford electric vehicles (EVs.) The two plants, which are a combined $5.8 billion investment, are being built next two each other on the same site, though production has been delayed at one of the plants because of less-than-anticipated demand.

“BlueOval SK is committed to our investment and bringing 5,000 new jobs to the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” BlueOval SK CEO Dr. Robert Rhee said. “Having our business offices in Elizabethtown allows us to build a greater connection to many of our partners, suppliers, and the people of Hardin County.” Louisville Business First

Greater Louisville’s regional approach to economic development is raising the area’s profile with companies looking to relocate or expand their businesses.

That was the consensus among five site selectors who participated in “Looking at Lou,” a panel discussion hosted by Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) at the Kentucky Center on Thursday.

John Castro, managing director of Cast-McCrane Co., said he has not worked in the region before, but it was on the long list for a number of his projects in the past.

Castro said the cooperation he saw among leaders in Kentucky and Southern Indiana this week impressed him enough to give the area greater consideration in the future.

“Typically regionalism is a scary thing, because we just don’t know how that’s going to turn out. We are all typically competitive, that’s what economic development is,” Castro explained. “I will say, and I’m not being cliche, I think that what I’ve seen is seamless, completely seamless from the time I got here. And the level of not only the knowledge that was just flowing out of all of your team members’ presentations in the bus, but the passion combined with that. You can actually see it.” Louisville Business First