Greater Lexington Region Achieves Third Straight National Top Ten Ranking for Economic Development Activity

​For the third consecutive year, the Greater Lexington Region (Lexington-Fayette Metro) landed in the Top 10 of Site Selection magazine’s annual ranking of economic development activity in 2025 among Tier 2 regions between 200,000 and one million in population. The publication has published the Governor’s Cup rankings annually since 1988, based on new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by the proprietary Conway Projects Database.
 
The Greater Lexington Region moved up from ninth to fourth with 27 total projects among the Tier 2 metros and finished sixth in projects per capita.  Statewide, 15 Kentucky micropolitan areas (10,000 to 50,000 people which cover at least one county) totaling 42 projects were recognized, including Greater Lexington micropolitan areas Richmond-Berea (#25), Frankfort (#40), and Mt. Sterling (#70).  Kentucky as a whole finished fifth for the second consecutive year nationally in projects per capita. In the South Central Region, the Commonwealth was second in projects per capita and third in total projects (182). 

“Lexington-Fayette County has long been recognized as a regional leader across the board, and this ranking certainly reaffirms our commitment to building a strong, thriving economy,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said. “We have made significant progress toward regionalism by developing strong relationships with our neighbors and initiating the creation of Central Kentucky’s first regional business park, an investment that will create quality, good-paying jobs for our people, and generate new revenue for our communities. By bringing our region together, we are positioning Central Kentucky’s future for long-term growth, attracting new opportunities, and ensuring our entire region can succeed together.”
 
Commerce Lexington’s Executive Vice President of Economic Development, Gina Greathouse, said, “The credit for these numbers and rankings goes to all of our regional partners, who have made a strong commitment to regionalism by working together on the Regional Competitiveness Plan. Leaders from both the private and public sectors across the nine-county area have collaborated to implement action items outlined in the plan that are aimed at enhancing our ability to attract jobs and talent while fostering a vibrant economic environment.”
 
Since the inception of the Regional Competitiveness Plan in 2021, the Greater Lexington Region has seen positive growth in gross domestic product (+6.7%), employment (+20,999 jobs), and wages (+28.1%). Another key goal of the plan is to increase shovel-ready sites for business growth.  Last year saw the opening of Lexington’s new 200-acre Legacy Business Park, while leaders from the Scott County Fiscal Court, Madison County Fiscal Court, the City of Berea, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government formed the first-ever public, multi-county regional business park in Central Kentucky. This partnership is working jointly to develop sites that support job creation and long-term regional job growth.
 
Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley, who currently serves as Board Chair for Greater Lex Inc., said, “It is very apparent by the numbers we’re seeing that regionalism works. We must be able to work together as a region, because so many of our competitor metro areas are already doing it. By collaborating with each other, we can be more innovative when it comes to finding solutions to our biggest challenges. All of our regional partners have something beneficial that they bring to the table, and we can learn from each other as well.  That’s why it’s important for me and my city to be part of the regional plan.”
 
Site Selection magazine annually evaluates regions based on the number of qualified projects that meet specific criteria: a minimum capital investment of $1 million; the creation of at least 20 new jobs; or the addition of at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.  Greater Lexington's impressive performance underscores its growing appeal to businesses and investors.
 
For more information about the Greater Lexington Region and Commerce Lexington’s economic development efforts, visit www.locateinlexington.com.