Governor Andy Beshear grew up in central Kentucky and graduated from Henry Clay High School before attending Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia School of Law. His family and community instilled in him the values of faith, family, and public service. He has leaned on those values more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Kentucky just three months after he took office. During this crisis, Gov. Beshear steadfastly put science and the safety of all Kentuckians ahead of politics. His early and bold actions during COVID-19, combined with Team Kentucky’s cooperation and compassion, undoubtedly have saved thousands of lives. Now, he is helping Kentucky increase vaccinations and sprint out of the pandemic as our economy booms. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, Gov. Beshear has prioritized good-paying jobs in every corner of the commonwealth. The private sector has announced more than $14 billion in investment in Kentucky since December 2019, when Gov. Beshear took office.
Under his leadership, Team Kentucky has attracted more than 580 economic development projects, creating more than 28,000 full-time jobs. That includes the single largest economic development project in the history of the commonwealth, a transformative $5.8 billion investment from Ford Motor Company and its partner SK Innovation to build two electric battery plants in Kentucky. The project will create 5,000 jobs at those plants alone, not to mention additional jobs in construction and at suppliers and dealerships. It places our state at the forefront of the automotive industry’s future. The Governor and his wife, First Lady Britainy Beshear, along with their two children, live in Frankfort and are active in Louisville’s Beargrass Christian Church.