Christian County’s economic profile shifted dramatically Thursday morning, when more than 100 noted local, regional and national dignitaries welcomed Ascend Elements into the heart of growing Commerce Park II with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Neatly nestled along a CSX service rail, the 450,000-square-foot facility to be known as “Apex 1” brings pinnacle, state-of-the-art technology to southwestern Kentucky — in which the campus will implement its innovative synthetic, sustainable process of converting recycled materials for electric-vehicle battery production.
Originally announced this past summer as a $310 million, 250-job investment with considerable potential, Governor Andy Beshear and Ascend Elements officials confirmed that Wednesday’s announcement of more than $480 million in federal grants coming from the Department of Energy solidify this project as a 400-job, $1 billion commitment to Christian County and the electric vehicle industry.
It’s the single-largest economic investment ever for west Kentucky, and one for which Ascend Elements CEO Michael O’Kronley received rousing applause.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of emails, phone calls, text messages and planning hours made Ascend Elements go from a figment to a reality. O’Kronley noted Hopkinsville and this location was one of six finalists for the construction, and choosing Christian County came down to relationships built over the last calendar year.
The soon-to-be crown jewel of Commerce Park II is expected to open sometime during the 2024 fiscal year, and with it comes considerable changes to both the infrastructure and surrounding campus of the industrial site.
Beshear said more than $4.4 billion in added revenues is expected to come with Ascend’s arrival, providing generations of west Kentuckians the comfort of a better tomorrow.
With recent massive investment from SK Battery America and the like, Kentucky and interested businesses have committed more than $10 billion in the last three years for the creating and sustaining of electric vehicle production and maintenance, with infrastructure plans along with it.
John Crenshaw, chairman of the Hopkinsville Industrial Foundation, called the green decision a boon for the area, and for the country.
Lee Conrad, chairman of the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council, likened Thursday’s announcement to a story told by Christopher Walken in the movie “Catch Me If You Can.”
Mayor Wendell Lynch and Judge-Executive Steve Tribble presented O’Kronley and Ascend Elements officials a “Key To The City,” for unlocking Commerce Park II’s potential with this massive investment.
SWK EDC Executive Director Carter Hendricks noted three specific traits helped turn these conversations into action.
Once open, jobs will consist of engineers, chemists, management and more — with annual plans to equip up to 250,000 electric vehicles in battery components.
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