FAQs Archive

Q: What should be confirmed first for site readiness?

A: Power capacity, water/wastewater needs, permitting path, truck flow, and expansion options before you commit to a timeline.

Q: How do you evaluate workforce availability quickly?

A: Start with your critical roles and shift model, then validate labor shed depth, competing employers, and time-to-fill for key positions.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake large companies make when relocating?

A: Choosing a site based on real estate availability alone instead of validating labor depth, utilities, and ramp timelines first.

Q: What flavor companies are located in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati?

A: The Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region is home to one of the world's densest concentrations of flavor companies, including Givaudan (world's largest flavor and fragrance company), MANE Inc. (North American operations for the world's largest privately-owned flavor company), ADM (flavor and color business headquartered in Erlanger, KY), Perfetti Van Melle USA (Airheads and Mentos, headquartered in Erlanger), ZoomEssence (proprietary AmbiDry flavor technology, Hebron, KY), and Lyons Magnus. The cluster also includes several medium- to small-sized flavor houses across Hamilton, Walton, and the broader region. In total, more than 30 food flavor manufacturers operate in Northern Kentucky alone.

Q: What food incentives are available in Kentucky for manufacturers?

A: Food manufacturers in Kentucky can access the Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) Program for tax credits and wage incentives, the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA) for refunds on equipment purchases and property improvements, Industrial Revenue Bonds for facility financing, the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation credit for workforce training costs, and Kentucky Department of Agriculture grants for specialty food production and supply chain improvements. BE NKY Growth Partnership provides free guidance on all available incentives for companies evaluating Northern Kentucky.

Q: What makes Northern Kentucky a good location for food manufacturing?

A: Northern Kentucky offers food manufacturers five key advantages: a 150-year flavor industry cluster that is still attracting nine-figure investment; access to 54% of the U.S. population within a one-day drive; industrial electricity costs 11% below the national average; labor costs competitive with or lower than Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta (per KPMG Competitive Alternatives); and Kentucky's KBI, KEIA, and IRB incentive programs that directly support manufacturing facility investment. CVG Airport, the 7th largest cargo airport in North America, provides global air freight access for ingredient exports. BE NKY Growth Partnership offers no-cost site selection assistance.

Q: Why is Northern Kentucky a center for flavor manufacturing?

A: The Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region has been a center of flavor manufacturing for more than 150 years, driven by its geographic position within a one-day drive of 54–60% of the U.S. population, its deep pool of food science and flavor chemistry talent, and its self-reinforcing cluster of the world's largest flavor companies. Today, the region is home to Givaudan (the world's largest flavor company), MANE Inc. (an affiliate of the world's largest privately-owned flavor company), ADM's entire flavor and color business, Perfetti Van Melle North America (Airheads, Mentos), and ZoomEssence, all operating in NKY or the immediately adjacent Cincinnati area. In 2025 alone, MANE invested $100 million in a new liquid flavors facility, and ADM is completing a $46 million Erlanger campus expansion. Food and flavoring employment in Northern Kentucky grew 24% from 2019 to 2024.

Q: What automotive manufacturing incentives are available in Kentucky?

A: Automotive manufacturers and suppliers in Kentucky can access the Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) Program for tax credits and wage incentives tied to job creation, the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA) for refunds on manufacturing equipment and property improvements, Industrial Revenue Bonds for facility financing, the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation credit for workforce training, and the Supply Kentucky initiative designed specifically to support supply chain companies. BE NKY Growth Partnership provides free assistance in navigating these programs.

Q: What EV manufacturing opportunities are available in Northern Kentucky?

A: Northern Kentucky's established automotive supplier base is actively transitioning to EV component manufacturing. Mubea (1,300+ employees, Boone County) is developing lightweight products for EV chassis and powertrains. Celanese is producing specialty polymers engineered for EV battery systems. The region sits within a four-hour drive of Kentucky's major EV battery investments: Ford/SK On's $5.8B BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale (5,000 jobs), AESC's $2B facility in Bowling Green (2,000 jobs, 30 GWh capacity), and Toyota TMMK's $1.3B electrification investment in Georgetown. Suppliers locating in NKY join an existing ecosystem of 40+ companies already serving these OEMs.

Q: Why do automotive suppliers choose Northern Kentucky?

A: Northern Kentucky is at the center of Auto Alley, the US automotive manufacturing corridor, within 600 miles of 64 OEM facilities, including Toyota Georgetown, Ford Louisville, and GM Bowling Green. Kentucky ranks #1 for automotive production per capita in the US. The region is home to 40+ automotive suppliers, including Tier 1 companies Mubea and Robert Bosch Automotive Steering, employing 10,000+ people. Kentucky's KBI, KEIA, and IRB incentive programs provide direct financial support for manufacturing expansion. And industrial electricity costs run 11% below the national average. BE NKY Growth Partnership offers no-cost site selection support.