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For about a 1% investment of the Federal budget, the State Department yields a large return for the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. Read on to learn how the work of the Department benefits this state’s residents.

Kentucky

• Jobs and Diplomacy

  • In partnership with agencies across the federal government, the Department of State advances U.S. trade policy objectives by opening new export and job opportunities for American businesses and workers through trade initiatives. In Kentucky, approximately 137,000 U.S. jobs were supported by goods exports (2014) and foreign direct investment supported about 101,000 U.S. jobs (2013). This resulted in $28.1 billion in goods exports from Kentucky (2015). (EB) More»

  • Kentucky business Fruit of the Loom was presented with the Secretary of State’s 2013 Award for Corporate Excellence. This annual award recognizes U.S.-owned businesses that play vital roles worldwide as good corporate citizens in supporting sustainable development, respect for human and labor rights, environmental protection, open markets, transparency and other democratic values. Read more about ACE here. (EB) More»

  • The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg employs 280 people and is a significant area employer. (CA) More»

  • Kentucky hosted foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based international exchange visitor programs. (ECA) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributed more than $672,000 to Kentucky’s economy through contracts and federal grants that directly supported INL missions. (INL) More»

  • Click here for more information about Department career recruitment events in Kentucky. (HR)

• Education

  • Fulbright Scholarship Awards: 47 Scholars and Students from Kentucky (ECA)  More»

  • Diplomat-in-Residence (Andrew Mann): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers. (HR) More»

  • Western Kentucky University and Bowling Green State University hosted Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA) from Nairobi, Kenya. The FLTA Program aims to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. educational institutions by establishing a native speaker presence in the classroom. (AF) More»

  • 245 exchange visitors from overseas visited Kentucky and 186 Kentucky residents travelled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs. (ECA) More»

  • The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) awarded the University of Kentucky more than $101,000 in grant funding to train graduate students abroad. (OES) More»

  • The University of Kentucky received a $2.7 million grant to establish five partnerships in Pakistan in business administration, and one partnership in Afghanistan in mining engineering for three years. (SCA)

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) partnered with the University of Louisville and the Southern Police Institute in Kentucky to provide a study tour on police leadership development to Moroccan police officials. (INL) More»

  • 90 Brazilian students attended Murray State University, the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University through the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program. This program is funded by the Brazilian government and the private sector and sends 101,000 Brazilian university students of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to study and conduct research abroad. The U.S. is a priority destination for scholarship recipients, and the program strengthens U.S. and Brazilian institutional partnerships, develops a workforce prepared for 21st century opportunities, and contributes to long-term economic growth for both countries. (WHA) More»

• Partnerships

  • The U.S.-China EcoPartnership between the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research and Jiangsu Wisdom Engineering Technology focused on capturing volatile organic compounds prior to combustion in energy-intensive industrial plants. Learn more about EcoPartnerships here. (EAP/OES)

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) partnered with the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) to assist the Macedonia National Police with assessing their capabilities to implement a body-worn camera program. (INL) More»

  • The Department of State facilitates the Kentucky National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Ecuador, founded in 1996. (PM) More»

  • The Department of State facilitates the Kentucky National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Djibouti, founded in 2015. (PM) More»

  • Refugee Arrivals in 2015: 1,930. The Department works with nine domestic nongovernmental organizations, which place refugees in over 300 affiliated offices in roughly 180 communities around the country. These local offices work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. (PRM) More»

• Travel and Security

  • Total Passports Issued in Fiscal Year 2015: 98,113. (CA) More»

  • Passport Application Acceptance Facilities: 104. (CA) More»

  • UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts: Paducah. (IO)

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mammoth Cave National Park. (IO)

  • Number of overseas adoptions for Kentucky families in Fiscal Year 2014: 158. The Office of Children's Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. Its work is dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad. (CA) More»

  • Diplomatic Security Chicago Field Office serves Kentucky: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities. (DS) More»