Speed Kentucky LLC, a producer and distributor of utility task vehicles (UTVs), will invest $1.47 million in a new facility in Owsley County, creating 60 new, full-time jobs, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Sept. 30, 2026.
The project marks the largest investment and job creation announcement on record for Owsley County.
"Today we're celebrating a major win for Owsley County, with Speed Kentucky announcing the largest investment on record for this community and the creation of 60 new, full-time jobs," said Gov. Beshear. "I am proud to welcome this team to their New Kentucky Home and look forward to working with them as we bring this $1.47 million facility to life. Together, we'll ensure success for this team, the Owsley County community and our leading manufacturing industry."
The company will establish an operational footprint in the Eastern United States to conduct final assembly and distribution of Speed UTVs. The facility will support distribution and final assembly of the Bandit, Diablo, El Jefe and Bambino models. Speed Kentucky is also developing a new enclosed, air-conditioned utility side-by-side, expected to arrive in late summer 2027, designed for practical work in farming, construction, forestry, firefighting and municipal service.
"Speed Kentucky is excited to expand its presence and operations in the heart of Appalachia," said Jimmy Lewis, cofounder of Speed Kentucky. "We are proud to call Owsley County, Kentucky, home and look forward to growing alongside this incredible community."
"We're excited to bring Speed UTV's first Eastern U.S. operation to Kentucky and grateful to the state and local community for helping make this opportunity possible," said Robby Gordon, world-renowned motorsports champion and cofounder of Speed Kentucky. "Kentucky's strong outdoor and industrial communities make it a great place to grow this part of our business, including opportunities connected to the region's coal and natural resource industries."
Speed Kentucky is a joint venture between Lewis of London, Kentucky, and Gordon of Concord, North Carolina. The project represents the brand's first major operational footprint outside its sole existing U.S. facility in Anaheim, California.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program, providing up to $1.3 million in tax incentives based on the company's investment and annual targets of 60 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years and an average hourly wage of $26 including benefits. KEDFA also approved up to $30,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act.
Darrin Gay, chairman of the Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority, said: "Today's Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approval of an incentive package for Speed Kentucky is a significant victory for Owsley County. After more than 25 years of effort to recruit a business for our industrial park, we are excited about what this means for the future of our community and the people who call Owsley County home."