KYIC 2025 Updates

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After the success of the inaugural Kentucky Industry Conference in 2024, we’re thrilled to team up with the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and the University of Louisville Manufacturing Extension Program to make 2025 even bigger and better. Mark your calendars for October 27-29, 2025, as we return to the Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY, for another incredible event filled with insight, collaboration, and industry innovation.

One of the most exciting aspects of KYIC 2025 is our renewed focus on key content priorities that will shape the future of Kentucky’s industry. This year, we’re diving deep into the critical challenges and opportunities ahead, with an emphasis on major areas: workforce development, metals recycling, energy priorities, and economic growth.

The future of the metals industry relies on a strong talent pipeline. We’re exploring ways to create more career pathways for K-12 students, while also finding better ways to tell the story of careers in metals manufacturing to a wider audience. This includes expanding opportunities for job growth in areas beyond the main interstate corridors, ensuring that every part of Kentucky has access to this evolving sector.

Metals recycling is another area where Kentucky has the potential to become a national leader. At KYIC 2025, we’ll look at how to pilot comprehensive recycling solutions that close existing gaps in the industry, while also investing in education programs that teach students, higher education institutions, and the general public about the benefits of recycling metals.

Energy remains at the heart of our industry’s success, and this year’s conference will continue the conversation on diversifying energy sources. Reliable, safe, and efficient energy solutions are essential for Kentucky’s metals industry, and we’re eager to explore what’s next in this space.

From an economic development perspective, KYIC 2025 will highlight Kentucky’s growing role as a national hub for the metals industry. We’ll examine how supply chain centrality in the state creates a ripple effect, benefiting countless other manufacturing sectors and reinforcing Kentucky’s importance in the national economy.

In addition to these key focus areas, our partners at the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership will lead discussions and offer exclusive sessions and trainings during the conference.

If you’re interested in speaking or have ideas for session topics, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Sam Ford, Chief Partnership Officer, at sam.ford@mi2ky.org.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months, including speaker announcements, session details, and registration information. KYIC 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable event—don’t miss your chance to be a part of it!