$2B investment in Bowling Green

Envision AESC of Japan is staking a claim on the expanding electric vehicle market with a $2 billion investment in a massive battery cell and module plant in Bowling Green. According to a press release, the gigafactory will have an annual output of 30 GWh (with the potential to expand to 40 GWh), which is expected to be sufficient for up to 300,000 vehicles by 2027.

Power to Prosper Minority Business Accelerator

Twenty minority business owners will participate in the second cohort of Greater Louisville Inc.’s Power to Prosper Minority Business Accelerator, funded by Papa John’s. The participants were chosen because they “demonstrate a strong passion and commitment to elevate and scale their business,” said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of GLI. The participants in the cohort are listed here.

Smarter than the average dog

Back in the day, we had a lab rat. Now Louisville’s Central High School is one of only two schools in the country to get a Spotbot 3, a robotic dog that can sit, stay, run and even make a 3-D map of an entire building. Called Reggie, the robot was purchased with federal grant funds.

SBDC noted for economic impact

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the three 2022 National Small Business Week Resource Partners winners in recognition of their impact on local economic development, job creation, and support of small business growth in the U.S. One of the winners is The Louisville Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC was noted for its transition to virtual counseling and leveraging its online scheduling program. The team introduced software to the state network, and it was quickly adopted in all centers.

AMPED Innovation Center

The Academy of Music Production Education and Development (AMPED) is putting the finishing touches on the AMPED Innovation Center. The center will be broken up into a business incubator, state-of-the-art event space, and two student resource centers through partnerships with Jefferson County Public Schools and the University of Louisville.