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Danville‑Boyle economic development staff brief court on Cody facility activity and workforce efforts
Summary
Danville/Boyle County Development Corporation reported ongoing property marketing at the former Cody LSC site, workforce programming, and local projects including a new Home2 Suites and hospital expansion; officials said there has been substantial interest from domestic and international site selectors.
The Danville/Boyle County Development Corporation (DBCDC) told the Boyle County Fiscal Court there is significant activity around the former Cody LSC property and continued efforts to strengthen local workforce pipelines.
DBCDC President and CEO JJ Harris told the court the Cody facility (821,000 square feet on 315 acres) is actively marketed and has drawn multiple site visits from domestic and international groups since closure and mass layoffs in November; Harris said property owners have shown the site and that interested parties include investors and potential end users. “There is activity on the Cody facility…we had 33 site selectors and specifically pitched our community,” Harris said.
Workforce and business support DBCDC and partners reported a series of job fairs and workforce initiatives: regional job fairs that attracted employers and high‑school students, collaboration with Center College (Centerworks), SBDC, and partnership outreach for apprenticeships. Harold and Josh from the DBCDC gave unemployment and participation figures and noted a modest uptick in unemployment that the agencies are addressing through recruitment and training programs.
Local projects and business retention Officials flagged several local projects that will generate construction and hospitality demand: a Home2 Suites extended‑stay hotel expected to begin in the first quarter, an ongoing hospital expansion expected to take three years, and ongoing support to retain and expand local manufacturers. Harris emphasized a preference for durable, long‑term manufacturing users for large sites.
Why it matters: Court members said retaining workforce and attracting stable employers remain a priority after mass layoffs at the Cody facility. DBCDC emphasized support for small businesses, entrepreneurship training and targeted recruiting to convert inquiries into long‑term local jobs.
Quotes - “Our goal is long term economic development activity,” Harris said of recruitment efforts.
Next steps: DBCDC will continue site marketing, host business‑development events (including a Doing Business in Danville session on April 15), coordinate workforce training, and pursue Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) funding for industrial site preparation.
