Celebrating Kentucky's Manufacturers Day at the Capitol in Frankfort, KY

On February 14th, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM), the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2), and Kentuckians for Better Transportation co-hosted Kentucky’s Manufacturers Day at the Capitol in Frankfort. The event was pivotal in highlighting the state's industrial prowess and addressing key industry challenges and opportunity. The gatherings brought together leaders from the General Assembly, the Beshear Administration, and the education sector to engage in critical discussions on the future of Kentucky's economy.

[Image: KAM DAY]

We were grateful that MI2 CEO Vijay Kamineni had the opportunity to share the organization’s mission, strategic focus areas, and work with those in attendance and to share information about our collaboration with KAM, with the Kentucky state government, and other key strategy partners who are working with us across our 25 current initiatives in talent & workforce, environmental sustainability, technology innovation, and branding, as well as the work in grants and funding and industry engagement that support realizing those initiatives.

We also appreciated MI2 Board Chair Matt Bedingfield of Wieland Group North America having the opportunity to join in a press conference with KAM, General Motors, and Gov. Beshear and to share a bit about the Kentucky metals industry and MI2’s work to media and others in attendance.

[Image: KAM DAY 3]

The press conference signaled the commencement of the 2024 Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky Tournament. Presented by Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance and sponsored by DQS - Solutions & Staffing and Built In The Bluegrass, this tournament aims to showcase the most innovative products originating from the Bluegrass State. As a symbolic representation of the state's manufacturing excellence, the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the reigning 2023 Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky, stood proudly outside the Capitol during the event.

CEO Vijay Kamineni also had the opportunity to participate in KAM’s board meeting while in Frankfort, as a board member representing MI2 and the Kentucky metals industry.

MI2 hopes the sort of collaborative initiatives we are working on alongside partners in the metals industry, government, higher education, and ecosystem support organizations highlights the benefit of bringing everyone together to make Kentucky the destination for metals innovation.

[Image: KAM DAY 2]