Gov. Beshear: 2021 is All-Time Highest Year for New Jobs and Economic Investment

Governor announces more economic development progress, executive order to address nursing shortage

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 9, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided his Team Kentucky update and said 2021 is Kentucky’s all-time highest year for new jobs and investment, with more than 17,000 new jobs created and more than $11 billion in investment announced.

“$11 billion in yearly investment shatters any previous record,” said Gov. Beshear. “Put simply, this has been the best year for economic development in the history of Kentucky. We are no longer a flyover state. We are the destination.”

The Governor also said this morning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a request from Pfizer to allow individuals as young as 16 to get a Pfizer booster shot. He said the next step is to wait for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to approve. Like adults, 16- and 17-year-olds would need to wait six months after getting their second vaccine dose before getting a booster.

“This is great news, especially after the update yesterday morning on the effectiveness of the booster. Pfizer released preliminary data that suggests a booster provides a strong defense against the delta variant, which is still enemy No. 1 here in Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “The data also shows a booster appears to provide real protection against the omicron variant.”

Kentucky’s COVID-19 indicators have continued to increase making vaccinations and boosters even more important: the week ending Dec. 5, the average test positivity rate was 9.02% and 15,875 new cases were reported.

The Governor said, just yesterday more than 10,000 Kentuckians got their booster shot. In addition, 61% of all Kentuckians have gotten at least their first vaccine dose.

As of today, 664,339 Kentuckians have had a vaccination booster, approximately 15% of the population.