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Economic development officials detail rapid response after Cody plant announces 266 layoffs
Summary
Danville development officials told the Boyle County Fiscal Court they activated a rapid‑response plan after a Cody facility announced 266 layoffs, holding job fairs, tracking attendees and pursuing multiple prospect leads to re‑employ displaced workers.
JJ Harris, executive with the Development Corporation, told the Boyle County Fiscal Court on Nov. 26 that the county learned the Cody facility will lay off 266 employees Nov. 30 and that staff immediately initiated rapid‑response outreach.
Harris said the development office engaged the Kentucky Cabinet, held a rapid-response job fair and contacted site selectors and industry representatives; staff reported at least six site visits and several active prospects described as Project Viking, Project Thanksgiving and Project Ozark. The county’s Cody site — an 821,000‑square‑foot facility on 327 acres — has ceiling heights and infrastructure attractive to manufacturers, Harris said, and staff are marketing the property to potential tenants.
Harold (economic staff) and workforce partners attended recent events and reported roughly 140 Cody employees attended the regional job fair and initial career sessions; staff will track re-employment outcomes through local career-office reporting and a December workforce committee meeting. Harris also highlighted concurrent housing and retail inquiries in the county and said economic efforts include investor outreach, foundation grant applications and proactive site marketing.
The court heard questions about the nature of the potential projects (some automotive/hybrid manufacturing, some smaller or service-sector prospects) and the vulnerability of battery‑centric investments; officials urged continued monitoring and emphasized that the Cody layoff appears specific to the printing/manufacturing sector rather than a wider regional trend. No formal action was taken, but staff said they will continue rapid‑response work and report back with placement numbers and project updates.
Next steps: the workforce committee will receive rapid‑response tracking information on Dec. 18 and development staff will continue prospecting and follow up with the fiscal court as significant leads develop.
