Since 2011, Duke Energy has worked with BE NKY to evaluate 15 Northern Kentucky properties with the potential for industrial or large commercial development. Duke Energy recognizes that the timeline for companies to make decisions about where to locate has become tighter. The Site Readiness Program was launched to help communities proactively assess and prepare properties for development.
In 2020, two properties in the City of Walton – one in Boone County and one in Kenton County – were chosen by Duke Energy to be part of the Site Readiness Program. The properties underwent a rigorous data-gathering and analysis process with national site selection consultant Site Selection Group (SSG) and local engineering firm Bayer Becker. The result was detailed information on the strengths and weaknesses of the sites plus a conceptual development plan for each one.
“The Site Readiness Program is designed to be similar to a real corporate project,” shared Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt, Vice President, Community Relations & Economic Development, Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky. “The goal is to enable BE NKY and the City of Walton to market the properties and better understand the potential for corporate investment.”
Renderings by Bayer Becker show that Walton-North, a 20-acre site in Boone County, could accommodate three buildings ranging from 20,000 – 30,000 square feet. At 48 acres, Walton-South in Kenton County could be suited to one corporate user with a 220,000 square foot building.
Beth Land, Vice President at Site Selection Group, noted that both the sites in Walton are advantageously located in proximity to I-75 and I-71, zoned for industrial use and ideal for advanced manufacturing operations.
“After our analysis, we’d like to see these properties put to highest and best use in industry sectors with higher average wages such as life sciences, aerospace and automotive,” Land shared.
Site Selection Group noted that the workforce value proposition is strong due to Walton’s proximity to Cincinnati and the strong concentration of key occupational skill sets for advanced operations.
“Industrial land is a limited resource in Northern Kentucky,” said BE NKY CEO Lee Crume. “We appreciate Duke Energy’s investment in choosing the two Walton sites for the Site Readiness Program. As BE NKY works with our county and city planning departments to identify land tracts ideal for corporate clients, we are focused on ensuring there is land available for good-paying jobs.”
Additional information on each property, including utilities, is available at the following links:
