News

GCED marked its Skybox Partners Luncheon with a $2 million KPDI grant announcement, a review of the year's project highlights, and plans for new spec buildings, housing, and infrastructure across Graves County.

On National Ag Day 2026, Graves County Economic Development celebrates the outsized role of agriculture in the local economy, noting that the county's farms cover more than a quarter-million acres and generate approximately half a billion dollars in annual revenue.

The Hickory Industrial Park expansion is making significant progress, with a 500,000-square-foot pre-graded pad, a new connector road, and a sewer lift station completed, as the next phase prepares to extend water, gas, electric, and fiber services along Hickory Road.

At its annual Targeted Business & Industry Awards dinner, Graves County Economic Development recognized 15 companies for investments totaling more than $26 million and the addition of 132 new jobs and 70 contract positions in Mayfield and Graves County.

Graves County Economic Development, with support from the Tennessee Valley Authority, released a new video promoting the Hickory Industrial Park's latest $3.5 million expansion — a pre-graded, build-ready site with direct highway access just four miles from I-69.

At the 2025 Skybox Partners Luncheon, Graves County Economic Development reported a strong fiscal year highlighted by 50 new acres added to the Hickory Industrial Park, a new spec building, a completed makerspace, and 77 new jobs added to existing businesses.

American Legion Post 26 and Disabled American Veterans Post 106 presented donations to GCED to cover meals for Graves County High School JROTC students during an upcoming Community Connections field trip to Fort Campbell, supporting student career exploration.

At the August Plant Managers Roundtable, representatives from CASA of Graves County, Happy Feet Equals Learning Feet, and United Way of Western Kentucky spoke to local business leaders about how community service and nonprofit partnerships strengthen both businesses and the community.

The City of Mayfield, Graves County, and community partners gathered to celebrate the arrival of the first three participants in the MakeMyMove remote worker relocation program, which had attracted more than 400 applicants and generated over 150,000 impressions online.

The City of Mayfield and Graves County launched a pilot remote worker attraction program with MakeMyMove, offering incentives to bring five new remote-working households to a community still rebuilding after the devastating EF4 tornado of December 2021.

The Delta Regional Authority named 33 community leaders as fellows of the 2022 Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy, including participants from Graves County, for a nine-month program focused on regional economic development challenges and solutions.

Graves County Economic Development introduced Jason Lemle as its new president, succeeding Ryan Drane after seven years of leadership. Lemle brings experience in business attraction, marketing, and workforce development from his prior role with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

Graves County Economic Development joined Universal Compressor Solutions for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the company's expansion, which includes an 8,000-square-foot addition and new CNC machinery at its Mayfield facility.

Pilgrim's Pride, in partnership with Graves County Economic Development, broke ground on a new $53.5 million state-of-the-art hatchery in Mayfield — a major reinvestment by one of the county's largest employers, which has supported more than 1,300 local jobs for 30 years.

Graves County Economic Development and Osmundson Manufacturing announced the Iowa-based company's first out-of-state expansion will bring a $12.5 million capital investment and 80 full-time jobs to Mayfield, offering a major economic boost to the tornado-recovering community.

Graves County Economic Development sponsored a Mayfield/Graves County Chamber breakfast featuring a regional economic development panel, with directors from four counties discussing transportation assets, business attraction strategies, and collaborative opportunities.

Hutson Inc. and Graves County Economic Development celebrated the groundbreaking of a new 50,000-square-foot John Deere dealership in Mayfield — a promise fulfilled after the tornado destroyed the original location — to be home to more than 50 employees under one roof.

PRCO America, Inc. began production at its first U.S. manufacturing plant near Mayfield, producing refractory ceramic products for the steelmaking industry and reshoring approximately 50 American jobs that were lost in the 1990s.

At the February Plant Managers Roundtable, local business leaders heard from workforce board representatives about wage reimbursement for new hires and from DEVsource Technology Solutions about practical applications of artificial intelligence in business operations.

At the December Plant Managers Roundtable, Kentucky legislators previewed the 2026 state legislative session and sought business leader input on workforce issues, while employment professionals offered guidance on managing contract employees.

At the June Plant Managers Roundtable, the Mayfield Police Department and Graves County Sheriff's Office briefed local business leaders on workplace violence statistics and prevention strategies, followed by details on a regional transportation survey.

At the April Plant Managers Roundtable, Graves County business leaders received an update on the state and federal legislative session from State Representative Kim Holloway and field representatives from the offices of Sen. Mitch McConnell and Congressman James Comer.

At the February Plant Managers Roundtable, local business leaders received updates from Graves County Commissioner Tyler Goodman on county projects, heard from the Chamber of Commerce, and learned about a new public-private housing initiative.

Chris Grooms, President of Rick's Electric, met with upper-level electricity students at the ATC through Power in Partnership to share his career journey and what to expect from the electrical apprenticeship program.

Thirty local high school students toured MRCOOL, FNB Bank, the Mayfield-Graves County Chamber of Commerce, and Mayfield-Graves County Tourism as part of the Community Connections program, meeting with business and marketing professionals from across the community.

Greg Wilson, founder of Murray-based HempWood®, met with ATC carpentry students through the Power in Partnership program to discuss his hemp-based building materials and the math behind them.

Alex Cunningham, CFO of Fran Bearing Co., met with second-year machine tool students at the ATC through the Power in Partnership program to share how their work relates to what local manufacturers look for in new hires.

Progress Rail employees visited ATC welding and machining students to share career advice and insight into the company's hiring process, continuing GCED's Power in Partnership initiative.

MEWS linemen Geoffrey Beck and Rex Coleman visited the ATC's electricity class through Power in Partnership, sharing storm-response stories and career advice with students.