Exclusive: Gov. Beshear On A Mission To Bring Jobs To Kentucky

Automakers are on a mission to woo the crowds in Detroit this week.

As automakers show off their latest and greatest to world’s media, another person is also on mission in Detroit.

“Bottom line, we’re here to create jobs for Kentuckians,” Governor Steve Beshear said in an exclusive interview with ABC 36’s Paris Lewbel.

Beshear and his team have been heading to the North American International Auto Show in the Motor City for the past seven years.

“We now have about 85-thousand Kentuckians employed in the automobile industry in one way or another,” Beshear said.

The governor’s office says beyond the four auto plants throughout the state, the commonwealth is also home to 465 auto suppliers.

“Right here at the Detroit Auto Show you’ve got all the major manufacturers and many of the suppliers worldwide and we need to be here,” the governor said.

Beshear headed up to the show to meet one-on-one with executives of the automakers and suppliers, and talk to them about bringing jobs to Kentucky.
“Number one is we work with our existing employers, because if they expand and grow, they are going to hire more Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “The other part of the equation is [getting] folks that aren’t here right now, either in other states, or other countries.”

Beshear’s efforts are paying off for Kentucky. Later this year, Lexus will begin production on its ES sedan at the Toyota plant in Georgetown.

“For Toyota to entrust the making of the Lexus with the Kentucky workforce says a lot about our workforce,” Beshear said. “It says that it’s quality.”

With so much coming out of Kentucky over the past decade, Beshear said he is proud to lead the state into a new era.

“That’s what the bottom line is all about, getting these people those good jobs, so their families, their kids, my grandkids can grow up, be in Kentucky and have an even better quality of life than I’ve got,” Beshear said.

During the interview, ABC 36’s Paris Lewbel asked the Governor, “You see ‘Born in Kentucky’ on a lot of things [at the show], what is it like as the governor to see [that] throughout the show here in Detroit?”

“It says, Kentucky is global player,” Beshear responded. “Kentucky is a global player in advance manufacturing and in the automotive industry.”

An announcement on workforce development from the governor’s office is expected on Wednesday at the Toyota plant in Georgetown.

We’ll have coverage on the announcement on Wednesday’s edition of ABC 36 News at 5 and 6.