FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 17, 2012) – Governor Steve Beshear has been named “Person of the Year” by the national economic development publication Southern Business & Development magazine.

The magazine’s winter 2012 issue, which hit mailboxes this week, applauds Gov. Beshear’s leadership in economic development and his ability to get past partisanship to accomplish his goals. It also marks the first time a governor has been named Person of the Year by the publication.

“It is an honor to be personally recognized by a leading economic development publication for my commitment to create and retain jobs across the Commonwealth,” Gov. Beshear said. “Since I became governor in 2007, my number one priority has been to cultivate a business climate where companies, both large and small, can invest and grow with confidence. We still have more we want to accomplish, but it’s nice to see that these efforts are recognized.”

The cover story highlights several of Gov. Beshear’s accomplishments, such as the partnership with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, to tackle one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects – the Ohio River Bridges Project.

“Major two-state cooperation is rare because it’s hard,” said Gov. Daniels in the article. “It can only happen when people on both sides put taxpayers and the public interest ahead of politics and parochialism. That’s the kind of guy I’ve found Steve Beshear to be and why I’ve developed such a feeling of friendship and respect for him.”

The story also highlights several high-profile economic development projects, such as Ford, GE, UFLEX, and Argonne, as well as the success of the Governor’s Incentives for a New Kentucky programs, which were created in 2009 to modernize and streamline the state’s economic incentives toolbox.

Gov. Beshear is also applauded for his leadership in education, most notably his protection of SEEK funds during every budget-balancing exercise. The article also notes his advocacy for clean-coal technologies.

“The South’s recovery from The Great Recession is on a faster pace than the other three U.S. regions. In fact, on paper, this is the best economy we have seen in the American South since 1998,” said Michael C. Randle, editor and publisher of Southern Business & Development magazine. “The Commonwealth of Kentucky is right out front leading the region and has been the poster child of this incredible re-shoring event as manufacturers move capacity from Asia and elsewhere to the South and Mexico much more quickly than most folks realize.”

Randle praised Gov. Beshear and state economic development officials for Kentucky’s economic recovery.

“Credit must be given to Secretary Larry Hayes and his great staff at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and especially Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear,” Randle said. “Gov. Beshear is a Southern governor who finds inspiration wherever he can find it. I watched Kentucky become the first Southern state to make a move up out of the recession as its automotive industry kicked back in. It was a wonderful thing to behold after almost a three -year period of seeing few positive things to write about in the world’s fourth-largest economy, the American South.”

Southern Business & Development and its affiliated websites – www.SB-D.com, www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com, www.SmallTownSouth.com, and www.RandleReport.com – report on economic development issues and opportunities in the South. The magazine is published quarterly and read by executives and other decision-makers across the country.

“Gov. Beshear is an economic developer’s dream,” said Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes. “Not only does he have the vision to move Kentucky forward, his actions back up his words. Economic development is a major priority for the Governor. Whether it’s traveling across the globe to meet with business leaders, enacting pro-business legislation or simply announcing an economic development achievement, such as a groundbreaking or ribbon-cutting, Gov. Beshear does what it takes to create jobs for Kentuckians.”

“Gov. Beshear has been a great ally for local and regional economic development organizations around Kentucky,” said Mike Mangeot, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development. “His willingness to listen and work with local organizations has been terrific, whether in recruitment efforts or taking input on the Incentives for a New Kentucky programs. Without the leadership of Gov. Beshear and his administration, Kentucky would not have weathered the recession as well as we have.”

To read the story in its entirety, visit www.sb-d.com.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2010 totaled more than $2 billion with the creation of nearly 11,900 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training,incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.