City Investments Keep Pace with Growth
Nicholasville continues to grow, and with that growth comes the responsibility to make sure City services, infrastructure and community amenities are prepared to grow with it.
Mayor Alex Carter recently joined Jessamine County Judge/Executive David West to provide local business and community leaders with an update on projects, investments and priorities throughout Nicholasville and Jessamine County. The joint presentation highlighted the work underway within both governments, as well as several areas where the City and County are working together to serve the community.
Nicholasville is currently the seventh-largest city in Kentucky by population and one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. New housing, businesses and development continue to bring opportunities to the community while increasing demand on infrastructure and public services.
For Carter, those challenges are ultimately a reflection of something positive.
“A growing community, I think that’s a great problem to have. When people want to move to Nicholasville, that’s good.”
A New Municipal Building for Nicholasville
One of the most visible examples of the City’s investment in the future is the new Nicholasville Municipal Building currently under construction on Main Street.
The need for a new City Hall was first identified decades ago. Nicholasville has operated from its current City Hall since 1973, and the building presents accessibility challenges for residents, including services located upstairs without elevator access.
Once complete, the new Municipal Building will bring general administration and Utilities services together in a modern, accessible facility designed to make it easier for residents to conduct City business in one location. During the presentation, Carter shared that the project is currently expected to be completed in the spring.
The project follows another major City facility investment, the Nicholasville Police Department headquarters, which opened in 2022 after the department had previously operated from an older facility in need of significant improvements.
Supporting a Safe Community
As Nicholasville’s population grows, maintaining a safe community remains an important priority.
Carter recognized the work of the Nicholasville Police and Fire departments and the role both play in making Nicholasville a community where people want to live.
“I think that’s a testament of people wanting to move to Nicholasville,” Carter shared while discussing the City’s first responders. “People wouldn’t want to move to a community that’s not safe.”
He also highlighted the Nicholasville Police Department’s recent drug enforcement efforts. In 2025, the department seized 5.4 pounds of narcotics, more than $400,000 in currency and 13 firearms connected to those efforts.
Beyond major enforcement efforts, Carter pointed to the importance of responsiveness in everyday situations. He shared a recent example of requesting an officer near an active construction area to help slow morning traffic and finding an officer in place the following morning.
Preparing Utilities for Continued Growth
Some of the City’s most important investments are happening behind the scenes.
Nicholasville currently serves approximately 16,000 water customers, 13,000 sewer customers and 6,800 electric customers. As residential and commercial development continues, the City has been making significant investments to ensure those systems have the capacity to serve a growing community.
In 2022, Nicholasville expanded its wastewater treatment plant from approximately four million gallons of capacity to approximately 7.5 million gallons.
More recently, construction began on a new 24-inch water main connecting the City’s water plant to Nicholasville. The project will increase water capacity and supply as demand continues to grow.
Together, these projects represent long-term investments designed not only to address current needs, but to prepare Nicholasville’s utility systems for future development.
Expanding Recreation and Quality of Life
Preparing for growth also means investing in the amenities that make Nicholasville a place where people want to live.
Nicholasville and Jessamine County are partnering on a new recreation center at John Preece Park. The facility will include four gymnasiums, an elevated walking track, meeting rooms and space for a variety of recreational and community programming.
Carter recognized Nicholasville-Jessamine County Parks and Recreation and the work being done to expand recreational opportunities as the community grows.
“A growing community needs improvements in quality of life and more activities for our youth.”
Plans for the new facility include opportunities for youth and sports programming, seniors, individuals with special needs and other members of the community.
Moving Transportation Projects Forward
Transportation remains one of the more complex challenges that comes with a growing community.
During the discussion, Carter provided an update on the long-planned east-west bicycle and pedestrian connection. While residents may see a project within Nicholasville and understandably wonder why construction has not moved more quickly, projects of this scale often involve state highways, railroads and utility providers outside the City’s direct control.
The City has continued working through those challenges, including reallocating funding to complete necessary gas line relocation work on the west side of the project. Carter indicated that this progress could help move that portion closer to bidding and construction.
The update reflects the persistence required to move major transportation projects forward even when many of the necessary steps extend beyond City government.
New Jobs Coming to Nicholasville
Growth is not limited to housing and population. Creating more employment opportunities within Nicholasville and Jessamine County remains another important goal.
During the presentation, Carter announced that Canteen Food Services plans to relocate its Lexington operation to Nicholasville at 1410 John C. Watts Drive.
The operation includes 92 employees and, according to information Carter shared during the event, generated more than $40 million in revenue from its Lexington office last year.
Carter described the announcement as potentially one of Nicholasville’s most significant employer expansions in decades.
“I think that’s going to be the biggest employer expansion in Nicholasville in probably over 30 years.”
The relocation complements ongoing work by Nicholasville, Jessamine County and local economic development partners to attract employers and create more opportunities for people to work closer to home.
Working Together as the Community Grows
Many of the projects shaping Nicholasville’s future also demonstrate the importance of collaboration.
Nicholasville and Jessamine County partner in areas including economic development, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning, tourism and other initiatives. The recently revitalized former jail on South Main Street, now serving as an office for the joint tourism commission, is another example of that cooperation.
Near the conclusion of the presentation, Carter reflected on the working relationship among Nicholasville, Jessamine County and other local governments.
“We have our differences, obviously. We have two separate governments, but we have a great relationship,” he explained, adding that cooperation among local leaders ultimately benefits the community.
That collaboration will become increasingly important as Nicholasville continues to grow.
From new public facilities and utility infrastructure to recreation, transportation, public safety and economic development, the investments underway today are helping Nicholasville meet current needs while preparing for what comes next.