• Mentee Seth Woodward, Wonder Whip, paired with mentor Greg Floyd, Ole South BBQ  
• Mentee Meagan Cooley, Simply Chic Home, Gift and Floral, paired with mentor Natasha Stanley, Bella Ragazza boutique  
• Mentee Nicholas Whiteside, The Earle, paired with mentor John Moore, Moore Automotive Group, Legends, & Marshall Ventures Fund 
• Mentee Azlin Flener, The Bees Knees Bakery + Goods LLC, paired with mentor Chelsea Boling, Hello Pop and The Hancock Clarion  
• Mentee Sheila Crowe, Pinky’s Snowcones and Snacks, paired with mentor Scott McCain, Retired Banker, Community Volunteer, & Investor 

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation (GOEDC) is proud to announce that Jamie Johnson, VP of Workforce Development, Small Business, & Entrepreneurship, has been selected for the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2025. Johnson is one of only two participants chosen from Daviess County to take part in the competitive statewide leadership program.

Leadership Kentucky brings together professionals from across the Commonwealth representing a wide range of industries and sectors. The flagship program runs from June through December and includes seven three-day sessions held in communities throughout the state. Participants engage in in-depth discussions and immersive experiences on topics such as business and economic development, education, healthcare, agriculture, government, and more.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Jamie to share the story of Greater Owensboro while gaining insights and connections that will continue to benefit our region,” said Claude Bacon, President and CEO of GOEDC. “We’re proud to see her recognized among Kentucky’s emerging leaders.”

The 2025 class will travel to cities including Berea, Pikeville, Paducah, Louisville, Bowling Green, and Lexington. Over the course of the program, participants will engage directly with Kentucky’s thought leaders, elected officials, and changemakers.

GOEDC also congratulates Kelly Armour of Owensboro Health, the second Daviess County leader selected for this year’s class.

For more information about Leadership Kentucky and the Class of 2025, visit www.leadershipky.org.

Owensboro’s own Green River Distilling Co., the 10th oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky, has officially opened its new tasting room in the heart of Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row, bringing “Whiskey Without Regrets” from the banks of the Ohio River to the bustling Main Street district.

The new 4,400 square foot space at 714 W. Main Street is a tribute to Green River’s rich, 140-year heritage and Owensboro roots. From copper tanks and lighting salvaged from the original DSP-KY-10 site to an immersive tasting experience that includes personalized bottles and straight-from-the-barrel pours, the new location keeps Owensboro’s story at its core, even in a new city.

“This new space captures both the grit of our Owensboro origins and the spirit of play, surprise and community that defines us now,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender at Green River’s parent company, Lofted Spirits.

Guests can enjoy walk-in tastings, shop exclusive bottles, and explore the hidden “Dept. of Spirit Preservation,” a speakeasy-style lounge with a barrel-strength decanter experience you can’t find anywhere else.

This expansion is more than a milestone for Green River, it’s a moment of pride for Greater Owensboro.

From the heart of Western Kentucky to the heart of Whiskey Row, Owensboro whiskey is officially on the Louisville map.

Learn more about the new tasting room and Green River’s legacy at www.greenriverwhiskey.com.

Welcome to The GOEDC Scoop: your monthly update from the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation! Each month, we’ll bring you the top highlights from our work across the community, important upcoming events and deadlines, and a look at what’s on the horizon for economic growth in Owensboro.

Top News from May 2025

Owensboro Athletic Club Earns 2025 SBDC Pacesetter Award
READ MORE

Texas Gas Announces Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Project
READ MORE

Marketing On Tap Helps Sold-Out Crowd Use AI to Draft Better Content
READ MORE

Downtown Businesses Celebrate National Small Business Month with Small Biz Crawl
READ MORE

Owensboro Hotel Occupancy Hits All-Time High
READ MORE 

LinGate Hospitality Wins National Owner-Operator of the Year Award
READ MORE

Mark Your Calendars

June 13 – Elevate Owensboro Announcement

June 16 – 2025 Wage & Workforce Survey Deadline
Manufacturing, energy, and logistics/distribution companies across Kentucky are invited to contribute wage and benefits data to help the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers build one of the state’s most robust, industry-specific reports. This confidential survey provides valuable insights to help shape workforce strategies, support talent retention, and benchmark compensation across sectors. Learn more: iqsresearch.com/kam25

Stay tuned for our next Entrepreneur Meetup and dates for summer training opportunities coming soon! 

Available Resources

Small Business Subsidy Program
The City of Owensboro and Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation have developed the Downtown Incentive Program to enhance economic growth by filling vacancies in downtown Owensboro, KY. The program offers rent subsidies or a 50/50 match for building façade improvements to support new or expanding businesses.

Incentives

Available Jobs

Thanks for reading this month’s GOEDC Scoop! Do you have a suggestion for a way to make this better? Let us know! Email your suggestions to saldridge@owensboro.com. 

Cheers,

Your friends at the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation

Owensboro is making headlines once again… this time on the national stage. LinGate Hospitality has been named IHG’s 2025 Owner-Operator of the Year, an award that honors excellence in guest service, brand loyalty, and sustainability across IHG hotels nationwide. This prestigious recognition celebrates the best in the business, and LinGate is leading the way.

With standout properties like the Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront anchoring Downtown Owensboro’s hotel scene, LinGate is proving that small-city hospitality can make a big impression. Their win reflects not only their dedication to excellence, but also Owensboro’s emergence as a top-tier travel and hospitality destination. Special thanks to Visit Owensboro for helping to showcase the charm, energy, and heart of our city.

Hotel occupancy in Owensboro has reached an all-time high, according to the latest reports, signaling a surge in both tourism and economic momentum. The city is riding a wave of growth, continuing to draw major conventions, meetings, and sporting events—living up to its title as Kentucky’s number one sports town. In the month of April alone, Owensboro played host to national conferences, The Great Race, Spring Rally, All “A” Baseball and Softball State Tournaments, the GMAC Conference Tennis Championship, and the American Junior Golf Association tournament. This level of activity is grabbing national attention and proving once again that Owensboro is punching well above its weight.

March’s hailstorm and April’s flooding helped Owensboro hotels to a record 72% occupancy rate in April.

Mark Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said that was up 7.5% from April 2024’s 64.5%.

The average room rate in Owensboro hotels climbed to $125 a night from the $117 rate a year ago, he said.

Calitri said, “We’re moving in the right direction.”

Calitri said the year-to-date estimated occupancy rate here is up nearly 6% over the same period in 2024.

He said the VIP Bourbon Experience during BBQ & Barrels sold out to fans from 11 states.

Calitri said local businesses benefited from the festival.

The Pub on Second, he said, reported a 40% sales increase over last year.

This media release was written and provided by our partners at Visit Owensboro.

Owensboro hosted its first-ever Downtown Small Biz Crawl in celebration of National Small Business Month, and the turnout was nothing short of amazing. Local residents filled the sidewalks to shop, sip, snack, and support more than 30 small businesses, from boutiques and breweries to bakeries and pop-up vendors. The event also featured live music and a festive atmosphere that brought new energy to downtown.

The Crawl was organized by the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the City of Owensboro and Downtown Owensboro Inc., with additional support from WBKR’s Chad & MKat and the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown. It was a strong reminder of what makes Owensboro great: a community that shows up for its own.

Marketing on Tap welcomed a sold-out crowd of 50 for a hands-on workshop focused on drafting better content and the tools that make it possible.

We took a deep dive into identifying target audiences and explored practical AI tools that can help small businesses grow more efficiently.

Huge thanks to our partners who brought this event to life – we couldn’t have pulled it off without support from Wonder Boy Media, the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, and The Brew Bridge.

Events like this strengthen our small business community and equip local leaders with the knowledge to stay competitive.

We’re proud to keep that momentum going.

Cheers to good ideas, Owensboro.