GCED’s Skybox Partner Luncheon celebrates past achievements and looks ahead to plans for future growth

At the 2025 Skybox Partners Luncheon, Graves County Economic Development (GCED) reported highlights of its 2024-2025 fiscal year accomplishments, including the addition of 50 acres to the Hickory Industrial Park, construction of a new spec building, completion of a new makerspace to support local entrepreneurs, construction of a 500,000 sq. ft., pre-graded pad, and 77 new jobs added to existing businesses.

About 110 guests attended the luncheon held June 10 at the Graves County Extension Office to celebrate these achievements and look ahead to GCED’s plans for the year ahead. They also heard from Terri Bradshaw, President and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Economic Development (KAED) and met Nicole Kaletch, who has been selected as executive director of the makerspace project, now called SkillRise 270.

GCED President Jason Lemle presented a summary of actions from the previous year, including efforts in the areas of business development, business retention and expansion, workforce and talent development, and GCED’s support of several events for the business community. Looking ahead to FY 2025-2026, Lemle said GCED will focus on business recruitment, workforce and talent development, and entrepreneurialism.

“We’ve been working hard to put the infrastructure in place that we need to recruit new business to Graves County,” said Lemle. “It’s a process, and we’re excited to start a new year with new assets—we have new property and a new facility to market and we have a new program to help local people with a dream to become entrepreneurs.”

Lemle noted that while GCED will continue to partner with WK&T on a program to recruit remote workers to Graves County, limited housing options are impacting the program’s success rate. GCED will also continue to coordinate the successful Community Connections and Power in Partnership programs with Graves County and Mayfield Independent Schools, the City of Mayfield, Mayfield/Graves County Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the West Kentucky Workforce Board with the goal of helping students learn more about local career opportunities and build relationships that lead to career opportunities.

Bradshaw served as keynote speaker for the event, explaining that KAED’s role is to provide education and advocacy for its members, including GCED, to help them better serve their communities.

Bradshaw said KAED’s advocacy is currently focused on increasing Kentucky’s business incentives, which are lower than those offered by surrounding states, and addressing Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) incentives, which are tied to tax abatement and are becoming less valuable given Kentucky’s falling tax rates.

She explained that KAED also partners with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) to award funds to support upgrades at industrial sites throughout the commonwealth and position Kentucky for continued economic growth. Graves County has received KPDI funds to develop property at the Hickory Industrial Park.

Kaletch then shared her vision for SkillRise 270, a new facility in Mayfield’s new business district, that will offer space for woodworking, metalwork and fabrication, 3-D printing, computer and electronic work, and embroidery and textile manufacturing. “My vision for SkillRise 270 is to provide a community hub for creativity and learning, to serve as a launchpad for entrepreneurs, and be an engine for workforce development,” said Kaletch.

Lemle closed the event by expressing his appreciation for GCED’s Skybox Partners, local businesses whose financial support makes it possible for GCED to do the important work of helping Graves County meet and exceed its economic goals. 

About Graves County Economic Development

Graves County Economic Development began in 1981, becoming the driving force behind expansion and development opportunities in the community. It continues to foster strong relationships with existing businesses and attracts new industry to grow in Graves County. There are 44 industrial businesses in Graves County that employ 2,300 people in the community.