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.

GCED has launched a newly redesigned website, gravescountyed.com, giving prospects and community members easier access to property listings, workforce data, demographic information, and other economic development resources. President Jason Lemle called it a major step forward for showcasing the community.

The April Plant Manager's Roundtable featured presentations from the Mayfield/Graves County Chamber of Commerce and Graves County Health Department, highlighting their services and partnerships with local business and industry.

Graves County Economic Development traveled to Frankfort for West Kentucky Thank You Night, meeting with state leaders and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development to advocate for continued investment and opportunity in Mayfield and Graves County.

GCED President Jason Lemle attended the Kentucky Supreme Court session honoring retired Justice John William "Bill" Graves, whose official portrait — painted by Mayfield artist Fred Biggs — was permanently dedicated among former justices of Kentucky's highest court.

The MakeMyMove remote worker relocation program has brought a total of four new full-time residents to Mayfield and Graves County since its launch, with community partners continuing to offer support and incentives to attract remote workers to the area.

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.

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.

PRCO America, Inc. became the first local manufacturer to utilize the Foreign Trade Zone designation at the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority, allowing the company to defer duties on imported materials and reinforcing the region's strong transportation network.

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.

A new video spotlights local employers like Dairyman's Supply Co. and the Graves County Health Department, showing how their partnership with GCED's Power in Partnership and Community Connections programs connects ATC students to real career opportunities.

A new video spotlights how the Power in Partnership program is turning classroom training into real career opportunities for local students. Recent Graves County High School graduate Luke Grantham shares how a program field trip to Universal Compressor Solutions led directly to an internship — and a promising start to his career in manufacturing.

Dale Usher and Brian Webb from Usher, Inc. visited ATC electricity students through Power in Partnership, sharing career advice and highlighting major upcoming electrical projects — including two uranium enrichment facilities — that could bring significant local job opportunities.

More than 400 high school juniors met with representatives from 28 local companies at the Community Connections Internship Fair, bringing resumes and exploring internship, part-time, and summer job opportunities across Graves County.

PADD Finance Director Alayna Champion visited ATC accounting classes through the Power in Partnership program, sharing her career path and insights on governmental accounting, fraud prevention, and the future impact of AI on the field.

High school students explored animal science careers through a Community Connections field trip to Murray State University's Equine Center, Riley Livestock, and a lunch presentation by a local veterinarian.