Five Target Industries
One Louisville focuses its business attraction efforts on five high-growth industries where the region holds a decisive competitive advantage. These sectors represent our greatest opportunity to attract quality investment, create well-paying jobs, and build a resilient economy for the future.
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Why targeted investment attraction works
By concentrating our business development resources on industries where Louisville already has proven assets–workforce, infrastructure, anchor companies, and research capacity–One Louisville is able to deliver a more compelling value proposition to prospective investors than a broad, unfocused approach.
Our industry specialists maintain deep relationships with site selectors, corporate real estate executives, and economic development partners nationwide to ensure Louisville is always top of mind for expansion and relocation decisions.
Automotive
Ranked a Top 3 U.S. Vehicle Production Hub, Louisville is home to two Ford Motor Company assembly plants producing the No. 1 and No. 2 selling vehicles in the U.S. — the Ford Super Duty and Ford Escape — anchoring a vast network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers across the region.
Defense & Aerospace
Louisville’s defense and aerospace ecosystem is built for the full lifecycle of mission-critical systems. Companies benefit from close collaboration with the University of Louisville, a Research 1 institution and home of the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub Kentucky.
For programs that demand speed and certainty, Louisville delivers. Companies can manufacture, integrate, and ship mission-critical components globally within hours, leveraging end-of-runway access at UPS Worldport and a logistics network trusted for the most time-sensitive cargo in the world.
Food & Beverage
Louisville’s food and beverage sector is one of the most dynamic in the nation. The region is the global epicenter of the American Bourbon industry, and major restaurant groups — including Texas Roadhouse, Yum! Brands, and Long John Silvers — call Louisville home, alongside consumer packaged goods companies and a thriving culinary innovation ecosystem.
Life Sciences
Louisville is building a nationally recognized life sciences cluster anchored by Humana, Kindred Healthcare, and the University of Louisville’s robust research enterprise. Strengths in health IT, medical devices, aging care innovation, and pharmaceutical services position the region as an emerging biohealth hub. UPS Labport provides end-of-runway capabilities for quick turnaround diagnostics.
Logistics
Louisville’s unmatched logistics infrastructure — home to the UPS Worldport air hub, the busiest cargo airport in North America and third busiest cargo airport in the world — makes the region a global distribution powerhouse. Positioned at the crossroads of I-65, I-64, and I-71, Louisville offers next-day ground delivery to two-thirds of the U.S. population.