Berea Business & Economic Development

Berea Business & Economic Development Leading business and economic development initiatives for the City of Berea. Welcome to the City of Berea Business & Economic Development.

We understand that starting, growing, or relocating your business can be a challenging process, and we are here to help. The City's official economic development department and the hub of its business community, Business & Economic Development can help inform, educate and prepare you to capitalize on the many opportunities Berea has to offer. We host local training events and coordinate direct sup

port to enhance your business ownership and entrepreneurial experience. Aside from these trainings, other resources include providing assistance with business planning, site selection, marketing, workforce development, market research, business referrals and many others. We make sure everything you need for continued growth and prosperity is right here and available to you.

Saying Goodbye to Berea Optical:  Dr. Durant and Ms. June Frank:Closing a half-century-old business is deeply emotional....
06/23/2026

Saying Goodbye to Berea Optical: Dr. Durant and Ms. June Frank:

Closing a half-century-old business is deeply emotional. This local business of 52 years of dedicated and committed service to the city of Berea and its residents, honors the legacy and expresses gratitude to both Dr. Durant and Ms. June Frank for services rendered to our city.
With deepest appreciation and warmest memories, City of Berea.

10 Cutest Small Towns In Kentucky For 2026: by Bradley Cooper:Kentuckians and their guests savor lakeside strolls, bourb...
06/23/2026

10 Cutest Small Towns In Kentucky For 2026:
by Bradley Cooper:
Kentuckians and their guests savor lakeside strolls, bourbon tastings, Appalachian hikes, and historic streets. They enjoy trains rolling through downtowns, farms for retired racehorses, and trails leading straight into history. With rolling farmland and mountain treasures to discover, these 10 cute small towns and the people who live, work, and play there showcase the very best of what's possible in 2026 Kentucky.

Berea has never been afraid to stand out from the crowd; it was the first college in the South to be coeducational and racially integrated. Even when Kentucky enshrined segregation into law, Berea still kept its independent spirit, especially in the arts space. It's the Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, with Kentucky-made works on display and for sale at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

Berea College also keeps a lot of its Appalachian landmarks protected and available for residents and visitors alike to enjoy, like the Pinnacles Hike in the Berea College Forest. This scenic overlook has regularly been named the best hike in Kentucky. Each July, more than 100 artisans come out to celebrate the Berea Craft Festival, with pieces for sale, along with food and music.

Berea,1 0f 5 Top Charming Kentucky Towns Surrounded by Outdoor Adventure!!  By Kelly CarrollBerea is a small town in Ken...
06/23/2026

Berea,
1 0f 5 Top Charming Kentucky Towns Surrounded by Outdoor Adventure!! By Kelly Carroll

Berea is a small town in Kentucky for nature lovers and art enthusiasts. It has amazing hiking opportunities, including the Berea Pinnacles, which offer amazing valley views. Many of the trails are multi-use and perfect for cycling, including the Berea Artisan Trail and John B. Stephenson Trail. The Owsley Fork Reservoir is a wonderful spot for water recreation, including kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. If you visit this charming mountain town, make sure to check out the local art scene. There are fantastic artisan studios, galleries, and jewelry shops.

Final Friends of Boone Trace bid farewell to Dr. John Fox, with gratitude and much emotion from all: The legend lives on...
06/22/2026

Final Friends of Boone Trace bid farewell to Dr. John Fox, with gratitude and much emotion from all: The legend lives on.

THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF BOONE TRACE HAS BEEN TO PRESERVE THE REMNANTS OF THE TRACE AND ELEVATE AWARENESS OF ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

Old Town Fabric, Celebrating 10 Years!!! Come join the celebration!  Saturday June 27th, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
06/22/2026

Old Town Fabric, Celebrating 10 Years!!! Come join the celebration!
Saturday June 27th, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Upcoming Fayette County Public Schools Virtual Job Fair for Employers:This event is being organized to assist individual...
06/09/2026

Upcoming Fayette County Public Schools Virtual Job Fair for Employers:
This event is being organized to assist individuals impacted by the Fayette County Public Schools layoffs by connecting them with employers and employment opportunities throughout the state.

June 17,2026 10:00 Am- 2:00 PM
• Promote open positions within their organization
• Connect virtually with job seekers
• Conduct one-on-one chats with candidates
• Share information about their company and career opportunities
Vendor Direct Link: Vendor Registration Link Scan the barcode below on the flyer:

Coming Soon, Please Welcome Berea new business, UNITY Dance Studio 292 Glades Rd.
05/28/2026

Coming Soon, Please Welcome Berea new business, UNITY Dance Studio 292 Glades Rd.

Triple Crown Business Park, Berea, KYBEREA, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Triple Crown Business Park will connect three counties in...
05/14/2026

Triple Crown Business Park, Berea, KY
BEREA, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Triple Crown Business Park will connect three counties in economic development through building a business park in Berea. We’re taking a deeper look at what the expected impact is for the counties involved.

Right now, there are plans for 14 lots for businesses, with seven smaller lots just over an acre in size, and seven larger, multi-acre lots.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, Madison County Judge-Executive Reagan Taylor, Scott County Judge-Executive Joe Pat Covington, and Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley all mentioned the jobs that will be created by the business park.

The park is located in Berea, which is exciting for Mayor Fraley.

“If young people, if they want to stay here, they're going to have good jobs that they can that they can get when they get out of high school or college, and that excites me,” he said.

But the belief is that Berea jobs will also boost regional growth in the three counties. According to census data, Madison County is the second-fastest growing county in the state. All three of Madison, Fayette, and Scott counties, however, are connected by I-75, and they already work as a regional economy.

“What we see throughout this three county area and really throughout central Kentucky is people commute back and forth from all different counties,” Fraley said. “We have people come from 20 different counties to one of our industries here in Berea.”

“We had very similar job demographics and, and a lot of those kinds of things,” Mayor Gorton said. “We started a couple or three years ago talking about this potential.”

The business park will also bring revenue for the counties. After a 10% allocation fee is paid to the city of Berea, the Madison County, Scott County, and Lexington-Fayette Urban-County governments will each receive 33% of the tax revenue.

By: Caleb Barnes (lex 18)

Lisa Foster, founder and president, Redeeming Hope shares with all of Madison County and legislatures how very grateful ...
05/11/2026

Lisa Foster, founder and president, Redeeming Hope shares with all of Madison County and legislatures how very grateful she is to receive funding to support the final construction work of the Redeeming Hope Home located in Berea. The home will provide a safe place for girls across Kentucky who have been victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
On May 8, 2026, State Representative Deanna Frazier Gordon presented a check from the state legislature in the amount of $100,000 to assist Redeeming Hope.

Congratulations to Redeeming Hope staff and excited to see the facility nearing an end just to begin a new for so many young girls.
So thankful to have the facility here in Berea.

May is Celebrate Small Business Month Behind every successful person who invested money, time, sleepless nights, hard wo...
05/04/2026

May is Celebrate Small Business Month

Behind every successful person who invested money, time, sleepless nights, hard work, and a "Whole Lot of Hope", someone's dream came true.

There is no better time than NOW, to invest into your community's growth. Happy Small Business Month Berea and Thank You to all Berea Businesses. A special thank you goes out to Katie, Startzman, SBDC Center, for all the engaging work in our community.

Address

212 Chestnut Street
Berea, KY
40403

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18599868528

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