Develop Frankfort

05/26/2026

Please find attached the agenda for the upcoming regular meeting of the Franklin Anderson Industrial Development Authority (FAIDA). The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, at 1:00 PM and will take place at the Lawrenceburg Police Department at 205 East Woodford Street Lawrenceburg, KY 40342.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. From all of us at Develop Frankfort, we remember and thank our nation’s heroes.

05/18/2026

Last week, Develop Frankfort had the opportunity to travel to Shelby County for a leadership visit focused on learning from their incredible growth over the past few decades.
We are especially grateful to the Shelby County Industrial & Development Foundation for organizing such a meaningful and informative visit. Thank you to Executive Director Ray Leathers and Mary Beth Dennis for their leadership, coordination, and hospitality throughout the experience.

During our time in Shelby County, we were honored to meet with Mayor H. Troy Ethington of Shelbyville and Mayor Ronnie Sowder of Simpsonville, as well as Pat Hargadon, Chair of the Shelby County Industrial Foundation and candidate for Shelby County Judge Executive. Their perspectives provided valuable insight into the collaboration and vision that have helped drive sustained growth in the region.

We were joined on this visit by an outstanding group of regional leaders and partners, including Brad Thomas (Bluegrass Energy), Michael Mueller, Franklin County Judge Executive, Mayor Layne Wilkerson (City of Frankfort), Jessica Holman (Kentucky State University), Penelope Peavler (Executive Director, Develop Frankfort), David Lodmell (Board Chair, Develop Frankfort), Richard Rosen (Secretary/Treasurer, Develop Frankfort), and Vasu Vasudevan (Board Member, Develop Frankfort).

Our trip also included site visits to Wieland, with Jim Purdue, and KCC, where we were hosted by Kevin Muldoon. These visits highlighted the important role that large-scale industrial projects play in creating jobs and supporting a strong quality of life for residents.
We’re thankful for the knowledge shared and the relationships built during this visit, and we’re excited to bring these ideas back as we continue working to support growth and opportunity in our own community!

05/13/2026

See attached the May 14, 2026, Develop Frankfort Regular Board Meeting Agenda starting at 4:00 PM. The board meeting will be held at 315 W. Main St. Suite 303, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. Take the elevator to the third floor and it will be the second door on your left.

05/12/2026

Buffalo Trace Distillery has officially opened the John G. Carlisle Cafe! Stop by from 11:00-3:00 and enjoy their wonderful menu. View their menu below!

https://bit.ly/4wp8TGC

The John G. Carlisle Cafe is now open at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Enjoy farm-to-table cuisine in a unique distillery setting. Learn more about our new cafe!

05/06/2026

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is conducting a planning study along US 127 in west Frankfort. They are looking at ways to improve public safety and improve traffic flow between I-64 and US 60. They have sketched up some improvement concepts and are looking for community input. Please share your input at the link below.

https://arcg.is/0ajfOm0

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is conducting a planning study along US 127 in west Frankfort, looking at ways to improve safety and traffic flow between I-64 and US 60. We’ve sketched up some improvement concepts and are now looking for feedback from the community. Learn more at https://arcg.is/0ajfOm0 then take a quick survey.

05/01/2026

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re sharing the story of a graduate from Develop Frankfort’s IT apprenticeship program. With no cost to participate, this opportunity provided hands-on technical training along with the soft skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. Programs like this are changing lives and building stronger communities.

We also want to thank Franklin County Schools , Knowledge Transfer (KTCS), and Kentucky State University for their vital contributions to this program.

04/30/2026

An update on the $150M mixed-use retail center at Paddocks of Frankfort - a game changer for Frankfort—keeping local dollars from flowing outward, creating jobs, and growing the tax base. More than shopping, it’s about building a true destination that complements tourism assets like Buffalo Trace Distillery and gives people a reason to stay, spend, and invest in the community.

It strengthens the economy, boosts quality of life, and positions Frankfort for long-term growth. Thank you Equity Management and Hamburg Place for your investment.

We also want to thank the Franklin County Fiscal Court, Frankfort, KY City Government, Mayor Layne Wilkerson, and Michael Mueller, Franklin County Judge Executive. The Governor Andy Beshear and the state government was instrumental in bringing this development to Frankfort and Franklin County.

The big news is we can announce that we will be getting a Texas Roadhouse, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panda Express, Wawa, Mattress Firm, Chase, Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, Zaxbys

04/29/2026

We are joined by Jason Taylor of Equity Management to announce the official opening date in late July of the new Target coming to Frankfort!Thanks to Frankfort, KY City Government City Commission, Franklin County Fiscal Court, and our elected officials Michael Mueller, Franklin County Judge Executive and Mayor Layne Wilkerson for their vital work in bringing forth this project. We also thank Governor Andy Beshear Jim Gray and Team Kentucky for their help. This is just the beginning for Frankfort!

04/28/2026

Welcome Doc Crow's Social to Downtown Frankfort Inc we are excited to have you on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail! Let’s get soon.

Doc Crow's Social is now serving... Frankfort, KY

See you soon🍴

109 W Main St. Frankfort, KY

04/27/2026

See attached the April 29, 2026, FAIDA Board Meeting Agenda. The board meeting will be held at 315 W. Main St. Suite 303, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. Take the elevator to the third floor and it will be the second door on your left.