South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council

What South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council does

South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council (SWK EDC) is a non-profit regional economic development organization serving Christian, Todd, and Trigg counties in southwestern Kentucky. The organization operates with a three-person staff led by Executive Director Carter Hendricks and Associate Directors Sharon Butts and Tony Prim, headquartered at 2800 Fort Campbell Blvd. in Hopkinsville, KY. SWK EDC's mission is to attract capital investment and create quality jobs in the region by providing free site selection, business retention and expansion (BRE), workforce development coordination, incentive navigation, and grant application support to companies considering location or expansion in the region.

The organization's core service portfolio includes site selection assistance, industrial real estate development (anchored by the 1,000+ acre rail-served Commerce Park II mega site and the 24-acre John E. Walton Business Park), speculative building programs, and workforce development initiatives such as SWK IGNITE (youth pipeline launched 2022) and GR2W (Getting Ready to Win, launched February 2021). It also coordinates the HOPFAME precision manufacturing training program with Hopkinsville Community College. Funding derives from membership contributions from over fifty supporters (businesses, financial institutions, local governments, chambers of commerce) and competitive state and federal grants, including the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) programs; over $100M in such grants has been secured since 2022.

SWK EDC functions as a field-sales-driven regional economic development entity, conducting direct company outreach, trade show recruitment, business retention visits, and consultant engagement. Distribution is supported by the southwesternky.com website, social media channels, an interactive GIS sites-and-buildings database, and partnerships with 15+ strategic allies including TVA, Pennyrile Electric, Hopkinsville Industrial Foundation, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, and Planters Bank. Since 2022, the region has recorded $2.7B+ in announced private capital investment and 9,000+ direct, induced, and indirect jobs from 13 industry announcements, with the SWK 2030 Strategic Plan targeting 2,500+ new jobs and $3B+ in capital investment over the five-year horizon.

Name

South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council

Legal name

South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council

Website

https://southwesternky.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council (SWK EDC) is a non-profit organization that recruits, supports, and retains companies in Christian, Todd, and Trigg counties in Kentucky, operating with a three-person staff from Hopkinsville and funded by membership contributions and state and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Industrial site selection
• Workforce development programs
• Business retention expansion
• Regional investment attraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Hopkinsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: The organization receives support from over fifty contributors including businesses, financial institutions, local governments, and chambers of commerce who invest in economic growth for the region.
2. Grant Funding: The organization applies for and receives grants from state and federal sources including the Kentucky Product Development Initiative, Tennessee Valley Authority grants, and other economic development funding programs to support site development and industrial recruitment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council is a regional, non-profit economic development organization that recruits new industrial and commercial investment to Christian, Todd, and Trigg counties in Kentucky and supports existing employers. Its core deliverables are site selection assistance, industrial real estate offerings (Commerce Park II mega site, John E. Walton Business Park, spec buildings), workforce development programming (SWK IGNITE, HOPFAME), business retention and expansion services, and coordination of incentives and grants. Services are provided free of charge to companies considering the region.

Product overview

South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council operates as an economic development organization offering site selection services, industrial real estate (including Commerce Park II mega site and John E. Walton Business Park), workforce development programs (SWK IGNITE and HOPFAME), strategic initiatives (GR2W), speculative buildings, and business retention and expansion services. The organization serves as the primary economic development entity for Christian, Todd, and Trigg counties in Kentucky, helping companies locate, expand, and succeed in the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Selection Services Free assistance to companies locating, expanding, or relocating operations in Christian, Todd, and Trigg Counties, including access to industrial sites, properties, demographics, and incentives overview.
• Commerce Park II Industrial Mega Site A 1,000+ acre rail-served industrial mega site in Hopkinsville, Kentucky with direct I-24 and I-69 access, CSX Mainline Railroad service, a 190-acre CSX Platinum Select certified area, and full utilities — marketed to large-scale single or multi-tenant industrial users.
• John E. Walton Business Park A 24-acre industrial park in Elkton, Kentucky (Todd County) with utilities in place, due diligence completed, and industrial zoning, plus more than 100 additional acres available for expansion.
• Spec Buildings Speculative industrial buildings in the SWK region, including a 100,000+ square foot facility at Commerce Park I, designed for manufacturing, distribution, and logistics operations to enable rapid occupancy by prospective employers.
• Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program Support services for existing regional businesses, including site visits, needs assessments, and assistance with growth, expansion, and retention initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2.7 billion in private capital investment attracted since 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and champion partner.

• Todd County Industrial FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2025Developing the John E. Walton Business Park with TVA grant funding support. Works with SWK EDC on industrial site development in Todd County.
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2024TVA is a key strategic partner providing economic development support, infrastructure assistance, and grant funding for site development. TVA partners with SWK EDC on workforce initiatives, infrastructure development at industrial parks like Commerce Park II, and attracting companies to the region.
• Pennyrile ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennyrile Electric is a key infrastructure partner providing reliable power and partnering on broadband delivery initiatives. They support Commerce Park II development and serve as meeting venue for SWK EDC board meetings.
• Hopkinsville Industrial FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hopkinsville Industrial Foundation develops spec buildings and industrial sites, owns land at Commerce Park I and II, and partners with SWK EDC on business recruitment and expansion projects.
• Kentucky Cabinet for Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency providing incentives, grants, and support for business recruitment and expansion. Works with SWK EDC on Kentucky Product Development Initiative and other state programs.
• Hopkinsville Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCTC provides workforce training through programs like HOPFAME (advanced manufacturing), technology training center, and partnerships for industry-specific training programs.
• Christian County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber providing business support, networking, and advocacy. Partners with SWK EDC on events, workforce initiatives, and business retention programs.
• West Kentucky Workforce Investment BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development board providing veteran liaison services and connecting transitioning military personnel with employment opportunities in the region.
• Atmos EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas provider supporting industrial operations and development in the region through utility infrastructure.
• Rogers GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction materials provider and infrastructure partner supporting site development and road construction projects.
• Trigg County Chamber of Commercechampion partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional chamber partner supporting economic development efforts and marketing the region as a business destination.
• Hopkinsville Electric SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal utility provider partnering on broadband delivery through energynet and supporting industrial development through infrastructure investments.
• Denham-BlytheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and construction firm providing infrastructure and site development services supporting industrial projects.
• Casey Jones DistilleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal distillery and economic development supporter contributing to regional growth and tourism development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development: Federal corporation providing economic development funding, site development grants, and infrastructure support across the Tennessee Valley. While SWK EDC is a recipient of TVA grants, the organizations pursue overlapping missions of regional economic development and site recruitment in the same geography.
• Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce: Regional economic development organization serving south-central Kentucky including Warren County. Competes with SWK EDC for automotive manufacturing investments (e.g., attracting automotive suppliers and distribution centers) and operates similar site selection, workforce, and business retention programs.
• Hunstville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce: Regional economic development organization serving the Huntsville/Madison County area in northern Alabama. Comparable in offering business recruitment, mega-site development, and workforce programs, and competes with SWK EDC for aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing investments in the broader Tennessee Valley region.
• Greater Chattanooga Economic Development Partnership: Economic development organization serving the Chattanooga/Hamilton County region in Tennessee. Operates similar business recruitment, site selection, and industrial mega-site programs (e.g., the 2,500+ acre Enterprise South industrial park) and competes directly with SWK EDC for automotive and EV investments along the I-24 corridor.
• Paducah Economic Development: Regional economic development organization serving the Paducah/McCracken County area in western Kentucky. Comparable in scale, mission, and target industries (manufacturing, logistics, distribution), and competes with SWK EDC for similar site selection projects in the western Kentucky region.
• Owensboro Economic Development: Regional economic development organization serving Daviess County and the greater Owensboro area in northwestern Kentucky. Comparable scale and mission, competing for similar manufacturing, distribution, and agribusiness investments in the Kentucky market.

Regional players

• Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development: State-level economic development agency providing incentives, grants, and business recruitment support across Kentucky. Operates at a larger geographic scope but provides a natural counterpart for SWK EDC's regional recruitment work, including administering the Kentucky Product Development Initiative grants that fund SWK EDC projects.
• Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership: Regional economic development organization serving the Louisville metro area in Kentucky. Comparable in function (business recruitment, site selection, workforce development) but operates at significantly larger scale and serves a different geography than SWK EDC's three-county region.
• Greater Nashville Regional Council Economic Development: Regional planning and economic development body serving the Nashville metropolitan area in Tennessee. While serving a larger and more urbanized geography than SWK EDC, it competes for distribution, logistics, and manufacturing investments in the I-24 corridor and shares the Tennessee Valley labor market.

Others

• International Economic Development Council: Industry association for economic development professionals and organizations. Provides member services, training, and standards for the economic development profession, serving as the umbrella trade body that SWK EDC and similar regional EDCs belong to.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwDEUuMYPSr9H557btxkwZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthWesternKyEDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-western-ky-economic-development-council/about
• Xx.com/swkedc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council