Last week’s announcement that Toyota is building its first electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the U.S. at its site in Scott County is reminding some of the ripple effect after the company opened in Georgetown. Ashli Watts is the president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
“We can look back at when Toyota located in Kentucky, you know, 30 years ago and to see how diverse our suppliers are now here in Kentucky and that other companies has are locating in Kentucky to really make sure they're close to, to Toyota.”
Watts cited a 2022 study showing more people commute to Scott County for work than vice-versa. That’s where money from the 1-point-2 trillion dollar bipartisan Infrastructure Act might come in handy to improve roads and relieve traffic congestion.
“The biggest example is the Brent Spence bridge up in Northern Kentucky, we're finally going to get that new bridge. And if you think about it, you know, Toyota and Georgetown is only one hour from that bridge.”
Watts said economic development and infrastructure development should go hand-in-hand and notes that Toyota’s Georgetown plant and Ford’s Hardin County EV battery plant are both near several major highways.
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