Economic development, infrastructure, education and housing were top of mind for Gov. Andy Beshear at this week’s Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Government Forum.
The event featured a speech from the governor, followed by a brief Q&A with Chamber President and CEO Brent Cooper. Major projects, including the Brent Spence corridor, were also part of the discussion.
“I look around, and I can see that this room is totally sold out,” Beshear said. “To me, that shows how engaged this community is on our collective success. It means Kentuckians are invested in their communities, and that folks know the importance of working together.”
Beshear highlighted both the state’s and the region’s economic success, as well as major infrastructure projects like the Brent Spence companion bridge.
Although he admitted the price tag of the project had increased from $3.6 billion to over $4 billion, according to project officials earlier this month, Beshear said, “we have secured that final price, that final contract. And last week, I announced that construction on the companion bridge will begin this spring. We’re going to get it done.”
Beshear also advocated for universal pre-k programs throughout the state, a longtime platform of his, and for investing in public education generally. He was also critical of the Big Beautiful Bill, passed in July, which cut Medicaid dollars.
Beshear argued the cuts would be especially destructive to rural hospitals, which rely on Medicaid and other subsidized programs. The Kentucky General Assembly’s budgetary process just exacerbated the problem, he argued.
“It means lower reimbursements to our hospitals, to our doctors, to our nurses,” Beshear said. “It means we can’t do as much for struggling families that are out there. It means that the largest payroll in rural communities, which is that rural hospital, is going to take another hit.”
Beshear also touted the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund as a way to alleviate the state’s affordable housing shortages, specifically by pulling “$150 million” from the state’s rainy day fund to invest in housing.
Cooper briefly mentioned a regional version of such a fund, which hasn’t been officially established yet, during the Q&A section at the end of the forum.
“I propose $150 million investment in our affordable housing trust fund, one time,” Beshear said. “That is a fund that leverages $9 of private sector money for every $1 of public money. What does that mean at a time when all of America is in a housing crisis? By taking $150 million from a $3.7 billion rainy day fund, we can build a billion dollars of housing in the next couple years across Kentucky.”
Cooper fielded questions submitted by the chamber’s board and some audience members. Given that it was a Chamber of Commerce event, many of the topics concerned business and economic development, especially as they related to attracting international businesses to the state and region.
“What are some more things that you talk about when you sell the state?” asked Cooper.
Beshear discussed a recent trip to international economic forum Davos in Switzerland, which has become a point of contention among his critics. Beshear described the event as the “most efficient economic development trip I’ve ever been on” because it put him in close proximity with businesses leaders throughout the world. He argued that direct relationships with business leaders and the state’s economic incentive programs were key selling points.
“They want a direct relationship, right?” Beshear said. “If they’re going to bet $600 million or $700 million from the company, if something goes wrong, they want to be able to pick up the phone and call the governor. And I can tell you, on our multibillion-dollar projects, there have been calls that I’ve made to their decision maker —or they have made to me—that have gotten us past roadblocks, and that’s so important. I make them a promise that we’ll get them up and running.”
The next Northern Kentucky Chamber Government Forum will take place on March 31.