Why Greenup County

With a long history of large-scale industrial employers in the region, such as Marathon Petroleum Corporation, AK Steel, Cintas, American Electric Power, CSX, and many manufacturers, the area’s workforce is skilled and values the quality of work, income ranges and other offerings employers bring.

Top-tier professional and trade services also are based here within the legal, financial, engineering, and construction sectors to provide advice and support to new and expanding companies.

In addition, the region has been certified as an “AERO ready” community by meeting 10 of 14 qualities needed for aerospace-related business and industry.

Transportation options are second-to-none with a major river port, three airports, multi-lane highways, and railways converging to serve the county. Such an efficient intermodal freight network is vital to both domestic and international commerce of the U.S. and its contributions to the integrated freight network.

The Wurtland Riverport is one of nine on the Ohio River, which provides access to the ports and cities from Cincinnati all the way to New Orleans. Facilities are located one mile from US-23, with access on a two-lane road. Kentucky has 1,590 miles of navigable inland waterways, ranking it 4th in the nation. In 2018, 108 million tons of freight valued at $11.9 billion moved on Kentucky’s inland waterways.

US-23 is a four-lane highway that offers access to Ashland, KY to the southeast and Portsmouth, OH to the northwest (via bridge). The highway also connects with the Industrial Parkway (KY67), a north-south highway that connects with I-64, 14 miles south. I-64 provides access that could enable the port to serve industries in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.

Rail service at the port is provided by CSX, with Greenup-Boyd owning the rail within the port acreage and surrounding industrial park. The rail network within this industrial park area is new, having been installed and/or refurbished by Greenup-Boyd.

Airports Include:

Ashland Regional Airport in Worthington, Greenup County, KY (DWU, Runway 10/28: 5402 x 100 ft).

Huntington Tri-State Airport in Huntington, WV (HTS, Runway 12 7017 x 150 ft) handles commercial airline, air cargo, military, and general aviation traffic. General Aviation services are provided by the Huntington Jet Center (FBO) located next to the main terminal. HTS has two major airlines serving non-stop destinations within West Virginia and Florida.

West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, WV (CRW, Runway 5-23: 6802 x 150 ft) is a non-hub primary commercial service facility served by multiple major airlines to Atlanta, Chicago, Washington DC, Houston, Fort Lauderdale and more cities in the eastern half of the US.

Greenup County is a Kentucky Work Ready Community. Criteria include high school graduation rates, national Career Readiness Certificate holders, community commitment, educational attainment, soft skills development and Internet availability. Compatible occupation sectors include Aerospace, Automotive, Plastics, Metal Manufacturing, and Transportation/Warehousing.

Manufacturing companies that are reshoring production into the US or introducing energy innovations can take advantage of the region’s abundance of workers that resulted from changes within coal, steel, chemical and related industries.

Training and upskilling programs are available to companies to ensure the workforce is prepared for their specific needs with a Kentucky Community & Technical College System facility within an industrial park in Greenup County.

Nearly three quarters of people looking for a job believe work-life balance is an important factor to consider, according to statistics portal Statista. Companies are paying the high price for that with $190 billion being spent every year to address the physical and psychological effects of burnout in the workplace. How to counter that? Locate your business in Greenup County where employees don’t waste time on long commutes every day and can find recreational activities nearby.

In addition to being an “easy place to live and work,” Greenup County is blessed with excellent regional healthcare facilities nearby. King’s Daughters Health System not only is respected and renowned in the area for advanced health care, but it also provides employee wellness programs that can reduce health care costs, augment productivity and increase employee retention.

Education is highly valued within the county, with its high schools boasting 96 percent or higher graduation rates. Russell High School is ranked #2 in the region in the US News Best High School Rankings.

Greenup Countians have a strong sense of place. With that comes a dedication to family, friends and colleagues that results in above average tenures and a sense of community pride.

Within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population, Kentucky is located at the center of a 34-state distribution area in the eastern United States, which facilitates the distribution of goods and materials to a massive industrial and consumer market.

Kentucky’s borders are within 600 miles of over 65 percent of the nation’s population, personal income and manufacturing business establishments. That helps when you have to move product, meet with a customer or close a sale.

Greenup County is just across the River from Portsmouth, OH, and a half hour from Huntington, WV.  Major cities within 100 miles of Greenup County, include Cincinnati and Columbus, OH, Charleston WV, and Lexington, KY and all they have to offer.

Add in the extensive transportation modes available for personal access and business logistics, and our location is hard to beat.