Duke Energy has selected three properties in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky for its 2025 Site Readiness Program. This initiative aims to prepare business and industrial sites for future economic development, marketing them to companies interested in starting, expanding, or relocating operations.
Since the program’s launch in 2010, Duke Energy has evaluated 42 sites across Ohio and Kentucky. As a result, 20 companies have chosen locations that went through the program, leading to over $2 billion in capital investment and creating approximately 5,400 new jobs. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Carvana, Shape Corp., and Niagara Bottling are among those that have invested in these areas.
The three sites chosen for the 2025 program are Frick Family Farms in Monroe (Butler County), Union Ren Farms in Middletown (Warren County), and Commonwealth Commerce Center in Northern Kentucky (Pendleton County).
Amy Spiller, president of Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky, stated: “Economic development is vital to the future growth and prosperity of our region. Our Site Readiness Program is one example of the proactive economic development initiatives that Duke Energy pursues to help spark investment in the communities we serve. We appreciate our collaboration with local partners and developers as we work to bring more jobs to the region and make Greater Cincinnati a place in which people want to work and live.”
Kimm Lauterbach, president and CEO of REDI Cincinnati, added: “Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program not only speeds up economic development opportunities but also ensures that our communities are equipped to compete with sites that are ready to be utilized. We appreciate Duke Energy’s ongoing investment and leadership in enhancing the economy of the Cincinnati region.”
The Site Readiness Program works with consultant Site Selection Group and engineering firm Bayer Becker while partnering closely with REDI Cincinnati, BE NKY Growth Partnership, local governments, and other utilities.
For 21 consecutive years, Duke Energy’s economic development efforts have been recognized by Site Selection magazine on its annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development.” In 2024 alone, Duke Energy helped recruit $548 million in new capital investment and over 1,000 jobs across Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky serves about 910,000 electric customers within a 3,000-square-mile area and provides natural gas service to approximately 560,000 customers across a 2,650-square-mile area covering both states.
Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s electric utilities serve around 8.6 million customers across six states while its natural gas services reach about 1.7 million customers throughout four states.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com or via their social media channels.
