Citizens of Mason County

Mason County, Maysville and all of Northeastern Kentucky has never been more attractive for business and industry to invest. From small businesses such as Hogs Trough and The Social to larger retail entities such as Kroger’s new Maysville MarketCenter, Starbucks and many more, we’re seeing incredible opportunities for new amenities across the board. From an industrial perspective, Site Selector Magazine, the national publication for economic and industrial development, named Mason County a “Top 20 County in America” per capita, thanks in large part to Director Tyler McHugh and our Industrial Authority’s efforts. Projects such as Good360, Pepsi, Stober and Mitsubishi’s almost $1Bil investment in concert with a Department of Energy $50M grant, all form a solid foundation and basis for that award. While these highlight our current successes, as a community closer to the label of ‘rural’ than ‘urban’, we can never stop fighting for family sustaining, career making jobs and investment. As your elected County Judge Executive, I view that mantra as a core pillar of my position. Jobs and investment, not only for today’s Mason County families, but for your kids and grandkids, so that they can live, work and play in Mason County, just as we have, for generations to come.

To that end, I’m incredibly proud to announce that our economic development teams have been working on what I believe could be a transformational and generational project, not only for Maysville and Mason County, but for all of Northeastern Kentucky and our Commonwealth. This project would not only help bolster our current successes, but positively impact almost every aspect of life here in Mason County – jobs, utilities, infrastructure, housing, and more. For several months, our teams, including our local electric utility providers, have been working with a US headquartered, top Fortune 100 technology company to bring this transformative investment, not only to Mason County, but Kentucky.

Ultimately, there are no guarantees this comes to fruition however I am proud that our area and this project has already beaten out not only other states, but other countries, for this transformational investment. If selected, their investment would bring high-skilled, high-paying local jobs, in addition to substantial amounts of high paying construction positions to our area. Their investment here, as a partner to Maysville, Mason County and Kentucky, would bring significant improvements to our water, wastewater, electric and other infrastructure. Their investment here would attract additional retail, industrial and technology entities that would each bring their own positive economic benefit, compounding and accelerating our collective momentum.

While yes, there are growing pains with any new entity. As your Judge Executive, I can unequivocally state, should Mason County be selected, our community would be positively transformed, with not only good paying jobs for today, but for generations to come. Again, this prospect is termed as an “owner operator” who takes immense strides in partnering with the local community and limiting impacts. They are not speculative or hotel chain operators exploring tech development, as was the case with a recent Oldham County project referenced at the last fiscal court meeting. Just as there’s a world of difference in a ‘buy here, pay here’ car dealer and Ford Global, these projects are worlds apart. I’m convinced that this global tech leader wants to partner with our community, state, utilities and other local partners in paying their fair share and not driving up costs for citizens. Large commercial electric loads such as this are what help stabilize electric rates for homes. As global leaders, their investment would provide amenities and services to local citizens, not add additional strains and costs.

As your Judge Executive, I’m incredibly proud of our economic development team and their successes. I ask that citizens remain open to the transformative investment that we’re working daily to secure and not fall for fear tactics or political stunts. Economic and community development is highly competitive and there are no guarantees however I hope we, as a community, remain open to progress and moving forward. With economic development and all new things, it’s natural to be frustrated to not have all the details however I’ve never worked a project that didn’t do their homework and explore whether their operations would work in our community first. Confidentiality is core to economic development as companies, especially global leaders, have stock prices, 1000s of employees, competitors, invest billions into communities and must ‘get it right’. I ask that citizens join me in remaining patient, optimistic and confident that investments in Mason County must also pass high hurdles as we determine their fit for us. While the status quo is easy, convenient and simple, the communities today that are not out working hard to attract new investment, business and industry will be the ones forgotten tomorrow.

All The Best!

Owen McNeill

Mason County Judge Executive