Gov. Andy Beshear visited Owensboro on Friday, speaking first at the Kentucky League of Cities Conference & Expo and later at the NAACP Kentucky State Convention at Brescia University. His stops centered on economic growth, inclusion, and a push for universal pre-K.
Beshear told leaders from cities across Kentucky that the state has “gone from being viewed as a flyover state to being the destination.” He credited mayors and local officials for helping attract record investment.
“Economic development is a team sport,” Beshear said. “A new business doesn’t come to your city without you welcoming them. Sometimes it’s even your residents smiling at somebody they don’t know at the coffee shop that can make all the difference.”
He pointed to major announcements across the state, including Apple’s $2.5 billion investment in iPhone glass manufacturing in Harrodsburg, Ford’s $2 billion retooling in Louisville, and GE Appliances’ $490 million expansion. He said Kentucky has seen $43 billion in private-sector investment during his administration, creating more than 63,000 jobs.
“We’ve broken our tourism record three straight years and our exports record twice,” Beshear said. “We have gotten bond rating upgrades from all three major rating agencies.”
The governor said the state is finishing the final section of the Mountain Parkway expansion, building new schools, and reopening bridges.
“We’re seeing so many victories for our people,” he said.
Beshear also pressed for universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds, noting more than half of Kentucky children arrive at kindergarten not ready.
“This is not political. It’s 4-year-olds. They can’t register and they can’t vote,” he said.
He said the program could increase family earnings by $9,000 a year for 6 years, save families $7,000 in child care, and expand the workforce by as many as 70,000 people.
“I never want to say we’re 23 years behind West Virginia,” he said.
At the NAACP convention, Beshear praised the organization’s history of “moving our country forward” and pledged solidarity.
“As your governor, I will stand with you, I will walk beside you, and I will use my voice to demand what’s right,” he said.
He cited restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 Kentuckians, making Juneteenth an executive-branch holiday, prohibiting hair-based discrimination for state workers, and removing the Jefferson Davis statue from the Capitol rotunda.
“I believe diversity is a strength and never a weakness,” Beshear said. “It opens new doors to a brighter future for Kentucky and the United States.”
He also praised Simmons College and Kentucky State University, saying his own children benefit from KSU’s partnership with Frankfort High School.
“These schools don’t just serve students enrolled,” he said. “They’re also working to lift up fellow Kentuckians and their communities.”
Beshear tied his message to faith and unity, urging Kentuckians to continue working together despite political divisions.
“Life’s short,” he said. “Our job is to do good things and be kind to each other.”
Beshear’s Owensboro swing also included an early stop sampling pizza with the Owensboro Times as the city celebrates Pizza Week. View a video of his pizza tasting here.
