News

The Tennessee Valley Authority awarded Graves County Economic Development with Round 11 of its TVA InvestPrep grant to support the Hickory Industrial Park expansion project, continuing TVA's history of investment in the economic development of Mayfield and Graves County.

Graves County Economic Development has been awarded a Round 2 Kentucky Product Development Initiative grant to expand the Hickory Industrial Park westward and develop a new 500,000-square-foot pre-graded, build-ready pad on 50 acres along Hickory Road.

Graves County Economic Development has been awarded a Round 1 Kentucky Product Development Initiative grant of $890,670 to fund construction of a new 120,000-square-foot spec building in the Hickory Industrial Park, with Governor Beshear presenting the award in Mayfield.

Graves County Economic Development, the City of Mayfield, and Graves County Fiscal Court celebrated the launch of the Exit 25 Interchange Enhancement project, a collaborative infrastructure investment supported by more than a dozen local businesses and community partners.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development provided $230,000 in Product Development Initiative funding for site improvements at the Hickory Industrial Park in Graves County, supporting the community's post-tornado recovery and long-term economic development readiness.

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.

Freeman Automation, LLC is expanding to the Hickory Industrial Park, building a new 4,000-square-foot facility on 5 acres and adding 10 jobs to bring its Graves County workforce to 20.

GCED has received a $20,000 grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation to support workforce development and business growth efforts across Graves County.

GCED's Plant Manager's Roundtable featured WKCTC Workforce Solutions director Ashley Burns, who outlined customized training programs already underway in Graves County — including employer-funded courses at Premier Candle and a welding program at the Graves County Jail. Premier Candle's HR Manager Wade Dinkins, initially skeptical, called the program flexible and highly specific to his company's needs.

GCED has been awarded a $2 million KPDI grant to construct two 60,000-square-foot speculative buildings in Mayfield's Grace Commercial Park in partnership with Youngblood Excavating & Contracting Company.

Graves County Economic Development welcomes Premier Candle US Corp., which acquired Mayfield Consumer Products on April 2, 2026, continuing the area's legacy in candle and home fragrance manufacturing.

Mayfield Consumer Products is investing $3.25 million to expand its Hickory Industrial Park production facility, adding a 63,000-square-foot warehouse and approximately 14 new positions to meet growing customer demand for its candle and home fragrance products.

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.