Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has celebrated the Greater Lexington region’s high ranking in Site Selection magazine’s annual report on economic development activity. In the report, the region jumped into the Top 10 in both total projects and projects per capita, Tier 2 metros with a population between 200,000 and 1 million.

In an interview with The Lane Report,Commerce Lexington Inc.’s Executive Vice President of Economic Development Gina Greathouse said, “We are very excited about this new recognition for the region.”

Site Selection attributed Greater Lexington’s success to its strong emphasis on improvements to make the region more attractive to foreign investors and improve the skills of its workforce. Among the newest investors from Japan is Funai Microfluidic Solutions (Funai), which
relocated its business unit headquarters from Osaka, Japan last year.

Lexington City Chief Development Officer Kevin Adkins said it was the first time a Japanese company moved its headquarters to Kentucky and made Lexington its home.

“The relocation of our headquarters to Lexington was a natural progression as our facility transitioned from an R&D center to the driver of our global strategy. This facility’s unique blend of pioneering technology and exceptional skill sets fuels our vision,” said Funai Chief Technology Officer Mike Marra.

Lexington has positioned itself as a home for innovative technologies by fostering a culture of competency and trust. The recent arrival of Funai has affirmed Greater Lexington’s transformation into a modern investment hub.