Supply Chain
On the Move
NKY is a Supply Chain Superhub
The supply chain is what surrounds goods and services, including how manufacturers and service providers source the materials they need to produce their goods or deliver their services, as well as how the finished goods get to the end consumer. It’s complex and far-reaching, and it very often passes through NKY and the Cincinnati region.
Northern Kentucky is a logistics and distribution juggernaut. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is now the fifth busiest cargo airport in the continental United States. Total cargo volumes at the facility have tripled during the past decade, and cargo activity at the airport is likely to experience significant growth in the years ahead.
Amazon rapidly built out its $1.5 billion Air Hub at CVG, with operations launching in August 2021, and CVG is officially Amazon Air’s primary U.S. air cargo hub. DHL also opened its North American super-hub at CVG. The region is served by three interstates. Additionally, the Ports of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are among the busiest inland port districts in the nation.
Supply Chain Management companies tend to concentrate on major port and air cargo facilities. Huge warehouses line the I-75 corridor, with more in the works. Between 2015 and 2020, the transportation and logistics (T&L) industry cluster created more than 11,000 jobs – making our region home to more than three times as many T&L jobs relative to the U.S. average. These new jobs helped Northern Kentucky lead the commonwealth in job creation from 2015 – 2020.
“Our new Amazon Air hub, opened in 2021, is part of our continued investment in Prime to ensure we have the capacity required for continued outstanding service for our customers. We’re proud to call Kentucky home for our air hub, creating more than 2,000 jobs in this fantastic community.”
Sarah Rhoads, Director, Amazon Air
Supply Chain Sectors in Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky is home to leading global supply chain companies, with concentrations in aviation maintenance, logistics management & consulting, logistics technology, and materials & packaging.
Education
There are 25 four-year colleges/universities and 11 community and technical colleges located about 75 miles from Northern Kentucky.
Throughout the Cincinnati region, NKU, Thomas More University, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, and Miami University provide leading engineering, business and technology talent to companies in the region. Business leaders cite the talent – dedication, education, and training combined with a willingness to learn – as a major asset for NKY.
To help fill the growing employment pipeline, ten regional colleges, universities, and career campuses offer related degrees and certificates.
- Northern Kentucky University (NKU) now offers a Bachelor of Science in Global Supply Chain Management to provide students insight into strategic sourcing and global management of inventory as well as practical knowledge of distribution, transportation and logistics strategies.
- Gateway Community & Technical College offers training in the global supply chain for supply chain specialists, global sales associates, and logistics managers.
- Supply Chain OKI is a nonprofit organization that helps youth and the unemployed find job opportunities and the education to create the next generation of supply chain employees in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
SmartAsset named the Cincinnati region as the #1 city for new college grads in 2022, the fourth year in the top spot.