In a dynamic panel discussion hosted by Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) as part of its Regional Economic Development Update series presented by PNC Bank, leading manufacturers shared insights into the region’s vibrant industrial landscape, highlighting Louisville’s continued role as a critical manufacturing hub for the U.S. and globally. The panel included Michael Land, Executive Director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering for GE Appliances, Yuan Qu, Deputy GM of Canadian Solar’s Jeffersonville Cell Manufacturing and Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing, and Chris Rice, Vice President and General Manager of Nucor.

Investments Driving Regional Growth

The panel collectively emphasized the region’s strategic advantages. Canadian Solar, for instance, is investing $3 billion in new facilities in Jeffersonville and Shelbyville, expecting to create 2,000-2,500 local jobs. These investments reflect a broader trend of bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

Land noted GEA’s 70-year manufacturing history in Louisville, praising the region’s manufacturing-friendly environment. Rice highlighted the area’s strong workforce culture and infrastructure as key factors in their investment decisions.

“Greater Louisville’s strength in manufacturing has always been an advantage when it comes to economic investment in our region,” said Clark Welch, VP of Economic Development for GLI. “Louisville companies, like GE Appliances, Nucor, and Canadian Solar have rapidly adopted new technologies and cutting-edge practices to set us up to be a global leader in this space for many years to come.”

Workforce Development: The Critical Challenge

A recurring theme was the critical need for specialized talent, particularly in automation engineering. Panelists unanimously identified this as a significant workforce gap. Qu emphasized the company’s multi-year approach to addressing this challenge, including: upskilling current workforce, sending employees for international training, developing specialized community college and trade school programs, and integrating advanced manufacturing curricula into high school and college education.

Energy: A Strategic Consideration

Energy security emerged as a crucial operational consideration. Rice expressed concerns about growing power demands from manufacturing expansion and emerging technologies like AI. All three manufacturing leaders stressed the importance of: stable electricity generation, robust transmission infrastructure, strategic power distribution, and investments in energy-efficient technologies.

The panelists underscored Louisville’s unique position in the manufacturing ecosystem and the continued demand for local suppliers to partner with all three companies. By fostering a supportive environment of government initiatives, educational partnerships, and a strong workforce culture, the region is positioning itself as a critical hub for advanced manufacturing.

The sold-out event was hosted at the Kentucky Derby Museum with more than 160 business and industry leaders in attendance. To learn more about other upcoming GLI events click here.