Duke Energy has selected three properties in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky for its 2025 Site Readiness Program. The program aims to prepare business and industrial sites for future economic development, making them more attractive to companies seeking locations to start, expand, or relocate their operations.
Since its inception in 2010, the Site Readiness Program has evaluated 42 sites across Ohio and Kentucky. As a result, 20 companies have chosen these prepared sites for growth, contributing over $2 billion in capital investments and creating approximately 5,400 jobs in the region. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Carvana, Shape Corp., and Niagara Bottling are among those that have invested through this initiative.
The three properties chosen for the 2025 program are Frick Family Farms in Monroe (Butler County), Union Ren Farms in Middletown (Warren County), and Commonwealth Commerce Center in Northern Kentucky (Pendleton County). Duke Energy works with consulting firm Site Selection Group and local engineering company Bayer Becker on this program. It also partners with REDI Cincinnati, BE NKY Growth Partnership, local governments, and other utilities.
Amy Spiller, president of Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky, stated: “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’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 helped attract $548 million in new capital investment and over 1,000 jobs across Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky provides electric service to about 910,000 customers within a 3,000-square-mile area and natural gas service to around 560,000 customers across a 2,650-square-mile area spanning Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company serves approximately 8.6 million electric utility customers across six states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Its natural gas utilities reach about 1.7 million customers throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com or through its social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
