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 economic development, marketing them to companies interested in starting, expanding, or relocating operations.
Since the program began in 2010, Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program has evaluated 42 sites across Ohio and Kentucky. Twenty companies have chosen to grow on these prepared sites, resulting in more than $2 billion in capital investments and the creation of 5,400 jobs in the region. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Carvana, Shape Corp., and Niagara Bottling are among those that have committed to developing on these sites.
The three properties selected for the 2025 program are Frick Family Farms in Monroe, Ohio (Butler County), Union Ren Farms in Middletown, Ohio (Warren County), and Commonwealth Commerce Center in Northern Kentucky (Pendleton County).
The Site Readiness Program is designed to help communities understand how to make their locations more competitive for economic growth. Duke Energy works with consultant Site Selection Group and local engineering firm Bayer Becker on this initiative. The company also partners with REDI Cincinnati, BE NKY Growth Partnership, local governments, and other utilities.
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, stated: “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 recruit $548 million in new capital investment and over 1,000 jobs across Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky provides electric service to approximately 910,000 customers within a 3,000-square-mile area as well as natural gas service to about 560,000 customers across a 2,650-square-mile area spanning both states.
The parent company serves a total of 8.6 million electric customers across six states and operates energy capacity totaling 55,100 megawatts. Its natural gas services reach around 1.7 million customers throughout several states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com or through their social media channels.
