Nicholasville, Kentucky

139 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 NICHOLASVI LLE , KENTUCKY Nicholasville was originally founded in 1798 and incorporated in 1837. The town was named after Colonel George Nicholas -- lawyer, planter, military officer, and politician who helped write the first Kentucky constitution in 1792. Today, the city that bears his name is the seventh fastest-growing one in the state and the tenth largest, overall. Most of its rapid growth began in the late 20th century, and it continues vibrantly in this one, the 21st – tripling its population over the last 30 years. One reason for the city’s admirable growth is its proximity to Lexington, where many of its residents travel to and from work. “We’re centrally located and close enough to a lot of activities in the other communities that border us,” says Planning and Zoning Director, Tim Cross. “So, we maintain that small town feels with the amenities of a larger town.” That being said, Nicholasville has more to offer than simply its status as a commuter town for the state’s second-largest metropolis. The city has a diversified employer base that includes corporate offices, healthcare services, educational facilities, manufacturing, research, and wholesale and retail trade; its housing market is very competitive, and its quality of life is getting better all the time. When it comes to attracting new business, Cross points to the National Jobs Act of 2017 and its creation of Opportunity Zones -- places where development investments can receive special tax advantages. “That was a big win for us,” he states. “ In our new industrial park and other areas, we worked to be classified as Opportunity Zones. That allows for business tax shelters so that they can invest money either for new or upgraded facilities. It reduces their tax exposure, which makes us more marketable.” New and relocating businesses can access the Enterprise Industrial Park in Nicholasville, a 80- acre, fully-served site, 18 miles from the Bluegrass Airport and 16 miles from the intersection of Interstates 64 and 75. Jessamine County, of which Nicholasville is the county seat, and where Cross is also the former Chairman of the Jessamine County Joint Economic Development Authority, is developing another 200-plus-acre industrial