Gov. Beshear: Caza Innovations To Relocate Corporate Headquarters to Bowling Green, Creating 15 High-Wage Jobs

Technology firm to launch strategic research and development partnership with WKU

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 4, 2025) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted new and exciting momentum in the state's technology sector as Caza Innovations, a high-growth research and technology firm specializing in commercial applications of advanced materials, biotechnology and data systems, announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Bowling Green and launch a strategic research and development partnership with Western Kentucky University. The nearly $270,000 investment will create 15 high-wage Kentucky jobs.

"The continued growth of our technology industry through expansion and relocation projects is creating high-wage job opportunities for Kentuckians across the state," said Gov. Beshear. "This project is a great example of what collaboration and strategic partnerships can create here in the commonwealth. I want to thank both Caza Innovations' leaders for choosing us for their New Kentucky Home and Western Kentucky University for its forward-thinking commitment to their students."

The project will see Caza Innovations relocate its corporate headquarters to Bowling Green and establish a presence in the commonwealth. The move also will allow the company to work with WKU on a multifaceted research and development partnership, which aligns with the university's pursuit of R2 designation, which indicates high research achievement, and the region's broader innovation economy strategy. The collaboration will focus on research, product development, commercialization initiatives and interdisciplinary student engagement. The 15 high-wage jobs created from the investment will include principal investigators and research positions.

"Caza is excited to put down roots in Bowling Green and collaborate with WKU's world-class researchers and students," said Dr. Kent Murphy, CEO of Caza Innovations. "We see enormous potential to unlock regional talent, accelerate product development and help shape the next generation of research-driven entrepreneurship."

Caza Innovations is a high-impact research and development company advancing breakthrough technologies across multiple critical sectors. The company is built on a mission-driven model that identifies transformative opportunities, secures diversified funding and converts scientific discovery into scalable commercial ventures. Caza's innovation portfolio includes artificial intelligence, health care and pharmaceuticals, alternative energy, telecommunications and data processing and emerging technologies, among others.

Dr. Timothy C. Caboni, president of Western Kentucky University, highlighted the company's commitment to the community and school's students: "This collaboration reflects the kind of future-focused partnership that defines WKU's path forward. Caza Innovations' decision to headquarter in Bowling Green - and to engage directly with our faculty and students - reinforces the value of our applied research mission and our region's growing status as a destination for technology and talent. Together, we're building the research enterprise and entrepreneurial ecosystem that will power Kentucky's next economy."

Warren County Judge/Executive Doug Gorman noted the benefits of the company's partnership with WKU: "This partnership reinforces what we already know - WKU is a catalyst for the future of South Central Kentucky. Caza's investment enhances the university's research mission and further strengthens the high-tech talent pipeline critical to the commonwealth's competitiveness."

Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott is excited to see the long-term success of the project: "This is a win for our students, our economy and our commonwealth. It's proof that strategic partnerships between education and innovation can unlock opportunity and drive long-term growth."

Ron Bunch, President and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, recognized the importance this investment will have on the region: "Caza Innovations' relocation and partnership with WKU elevate Bowling Green's profile as a magnet for innovation-driven enterprises. This is the kind of strategic alignment that transforms regions-not just by creating jobs, but by deepening our research capacity, entrepreneurial infrastructure and competitive edge."

Caza Innovations' investment and job creation build on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,200 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling $43 billion in announced investments, creating more than 63,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth's history and over $18 billion more than the next highest total.

The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.

Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On's transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC's $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota's $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Ford Motor Co.'s $2 billion, 2,200 job commitment in Louisville; and Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing's $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County, among others.

The Governor's administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.

Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service.

Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor's Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.

Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June 2025 preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $100,000 in tax incentives based on the company's investment of $267,900 and annual targets of:

• Creation and maintenance of 15 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and
• Paying an average hourly wage of $64.90, including benefits, across those jobs.

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, Caza Innovations can receive resources from Kentucky's workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.

For more information on Caza Innovations, visit cazainnovations.com.

A detailed community profile for Warren County can be viewed here.

Information on Kentucky's economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.