Economic development presenter Eden McKenzie outlines opportunity-zone updates and interest in former AK Steel site

Eden McKenzie told the Ashland Board of City Commissioners on June 11 that updated community data from Blueprint Kentucky will help the city better target industries and refine recruitment strategies.

"These updates will help us better target industries, refine our recruitment strategies, and ensure we are making data-driven decisions moving forward," McKenzie said, adding that the city met with the Cabinet for Economic Development to discuss new rules and opportunity-zone changes.

The presenter said the city is seeing steady interest in logistics and small manufacturing, with active prospects seeking 10,000–15,000-square-foot facilities and outreach under way to national quick-service restaurant brands. "From a business recruitment standpoint, we see steady interest in logistics and small manufacturing companies," McKenzie said. She identified fast-casual dining concepts, coffee drive-throughs and specialized chicken chains as top targets mentioned by site selectors.

On housing and redevelopment, McKenzie said community leaders are exploring a new townhome development to expand housing inventory and support workforce growth. She also confirmed that references to the city's former AK Steel site pertained specifically to the Coke plant and said multiple parties are engaged in discussions about potential acquisition and redevelopment.

In Q&A, commissioners pressed McKenzie on downtown challenges; she pointed to unrealistic asking prices on some properties that make projects financially infeasible. "A lot of these property owners want two, three, four times what the appraisal prices," she said, adding that excessive acquisition cost plus construction expense can scuttle deals.

McKenzie closed by noting ongoing outreach to site selectors and continued work to position Ashland competitively; commissioners thanked her and said they would follow up on particular redevelopment and housing ideas.