KENTUCKY — According to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's office, through the first 10 months of 2021, Kentucky has exceeded any other full-year totals for investment growth in the state.

Kentucky's record-setting pace for economic development growth has exceeded $10 billion in private-sector investments this year. The amount includes new location announcements from Ford Motor Company and expansion projects from Toyota. As a result, those investments have led to more than 15,200 full-time jobs being announced.

"Where we are economically is thrilling. We have an economy on fire, more investment than ever in our history. $10.4 billion in new investment just this year. More than 12,500 jobs since Dec. of 2019. And jobs of the future. We're going to be the electric vehicle battery capital of the United States. We're going to be the agricultural technology capital of the United States. We're building the cleanest, greenest recycled paper mill in the world in Henderson. Cleanest, most technologically advanced aluminum recycling facility in Todd County. We are on a roll. And I think it's as simple as the rest of the world finding out not just who we are, but what we can do. When your company is on the line when you got to be first to market when you are betting the future of your company. People are turning over and over and over to Kentucky time and time again. Just think, we now have both Amazon and Ford's largest investment in their company's history. And with Ford putting almost $6 billion into the Battery Park with SK Innovation. They're truly betting their company. They're number 9 on the Fortune 500 list. And who do they choose to bet it with, and bet it with? People. The Commonwealth of Kentucky. That ought to make all your viewers so proud. They picked us because we can get the job done. We're the talk of every boardroom across America. Every country across this globes knows who we are and what we can do. Our time is here. Our future is now. We will never follow again. Never be a flyover state ever again. Never have people look down their noses at us ever again. We are a leader in this post COVID economy," said Gov. Andy Beshear.