Metals innovation initiative brings solutions for metal companies in Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Kentucky metals industry is expanding, and here in south-central Kentucky, we’re keeping up.

Metals innovation initiative, also known as MI2, brings several fixes to Kentucky plants across the Commonwealth, creating a space for ideas to flow and to share solutions for the metals industry in Kentucky, especially with the incoming manufacturing companies like AKFA.

Jerilyn Bristow, manager of member engagement with MI2, says, “We’re never going to get to the point that we don’t need human beings creating metals, at least not in my lifetime, I’m betting. So the reason we do this is that these companies here in Kentucky are growing in the metals industry by leaps and bounds.”

In addition to the new companies, there are several local metal companies that are going above and beyond when it comes to supporting the community

Brent Wilson, the CEO of Bilstein Cold-Rolled Steel, says, “I think everybody wants to feel like you’re part of a bigger purpose, right? A bigger vision and mission. And, so when I think of design and think of what we’ve been able to do, community bringing us value through the engineering program, and we bring, you know, job offerings and careers that they can establish.”

For more information on the companies and the innovative topics, visit MI2’s website and Bilstein Cold-Rolled Steel’s website.