Duke Energy has announced the selection of three sites in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky for its 2025 Site Readiness Program. The initiative is designed to prepare industrial properties for economic development, aiming to attract businesses looking to establish or expand operations in the region.
Since its inception in 2010, the Site Readiness Program has evaluated 42 locations across Ohio and Kentucky. As a result, twenty companies have chosen these sites for their operations, leading to over $2 billion in capital investments and creating approximately 5,400 jobs. Notable companies that have invested through this program include Coca-Cola, Carvana, Shape Corp., and Niagara Bottling.
The selected properties for the upcoming year 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, said: “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.”
Duke Energy collaborates with consultants such as Site Selection Group, engineering firm Bayer Becker, REDI Cincinnati, BE NKY Growth Partnership, local governments, and other utilities on this program.
The company’s efforts have been recognized by Site Selection magazine for 21 consecutive years as one of the “Top Utilities in Economic Development.” In 2024 alone, Duke Energy contributed to recruiting $548 million in new capital investment and over 1,000 jobs throughout 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 roughly 560,000 customers across a 2,650-square-mile area spanning both states.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke Energy supplies electricity to around 8.6 million customers across six states—including Ohio and Kentucky—and owns approximately 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity nationwide. Its natural gas services reach about 1.7 million customers across four states.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com or via their social media channels.
