Frankfort, Kentucky; December 22nd, 2025
In a wide-ranging update delivered from the seat of state government, Andy Beshear addressed the condition of the Commonwealth through an official statement issued by the Office of the Governor of Kentucky, outlining developments in economic investment, state finances, public safety, and emergency preparedness as the year draws toward its close.
The governor reported that Kentucky recorded its second-best year on record for announced private sector investment, citing 185 new location and expansion projects with a combined value of $10.5 billion. According to the governor’s office, these projects represent continued growth across manufacturing and related industries, with nearly 9,600 full-time jobs announced since the beginning of the administration. The update framed these figures as part of an ongoing effort to position Kentucky as a competitive destination for long-term industrial and economic development.
Within that broader investment picture, the governor highlighted specific manufacturing announcements, including planned new facilities and expansions in Louisville and Maysville. These projects, as described in the official release, are intended to bring both capital investment and new employment opportunities to their respective regions, reinforcing the role of manufacturing as a central pillar of the Commonwealth’s economy.
Turning to state finances, the governor addressed recent revisions to revenue projections. The Consensus Forecasting Group, according to the update, reduced the previously projected budget shortfall from $305 million to $156 million. The governor stated that this revision allows for greater stability in fiscal planning while work continues on a strategy to address the remaining gap. The update emphasized priorities including education funding, Medicaid services, public employee pensions, and public safety, all of which were identified as core responsibilities of state government.
Public safety was also addressed through updated highway data. The governor reported that traffic fatalities declined compared with the prior year, alongside reductions in certain categories of roadway injuries. While acknowledging that any loss of life remains unacceptable, the update framed the decline as evidence that continued safety initiatives and enforcement efforts are having a measurable impact.
As winter weather set in, the governor detailed actions taken to protect vulnerable residents during periods of extreme cold. Kentucky Emergency Management, working with local partners, established warming centers and delivered supplies such as cots and bedding to communities in need. The update cited Campbellsville as one example where resources were deployed to support residents facing dangerous temperatures, underscoring the state’s role in coordinating emergency response during seasonal hazards.
The update concluded on a lighter note with the governor’s selection of a Team Kentucky All-Star for the week. In a seasonal gesture, Santa Claus was named to the role, with the governor’s office describing the recognition as a symbolic acknowledgment of efforts to spread encouragement and goodwill during the holiday season.
Taken together, the Team Kentucky update presented a snapshot of state government activity at a moment of transition between years, balancing economic reporting, fiscal management, public safety data, and emergency response. Issued directly from the governor’s office, the statement stands as the official record of the administration’s assessment of conditions across the Commonwealth at this point in the calendar.
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Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
- OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY, official Team Kentucky update issued by Governor Andy Beshear and published on Kentucky.gov, December 2025
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