GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Toyota announced a new expansion to its sprawling Georgetown operations over the next couple of years, and local businesses are looking forward to the economic impact.

Stephanie Holbrook opened The Hidden Trove in Georgetown two and a half years ago and before she knew it, the pandemic shut everything down.

“I think it was around March we got shut down for about three months. That was a hit, but the community came out and supported everybody when we reopened,” Holbrook said.

Even with the support from her community, Holbrook said this year has been a roller coaster. She's still grateful to be in an area like downtown Georgetown, and said it's the Toyota plant that brought her family here to their new home.

“Well, that's what brought my husband and I here originally. He's from Nicholasville, I was from Lexington, and when we got married and started our family, we moved here," Holbrook recalled.

Her husband worked at the Toyota plant full time, and now her son works there.

"It's been, you know, a money provider for our family throughout the years,” Holbrook said.

Toyota announced a new expansion that would invest around $461 million into its Georgetown plant, the largest Toyota plant in the world. Holbrook said bringing more people to the Commonwealth will hopefully help herself and other stores on Main Street. 

“I think Toyota has brought a lot of new families: the community, we've got new schools, we've got new buildings. I think there's probably going to be some growing pains in there,” Holbrook said.

After this past year having overcome pandemic challenges, she has a positive change to look forward to within her city and shop.