Kim Huston is an award-winning economic development professional who has spent 30 years in community development in Bardstown, the last 22 years as the President of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency. Her efforts helped to bring in $1.8 billion of economic investment to Bardstown and Nelson County. She spends her days persuading people to fall in love with Bardstown, whether it’s to locate a corporation, relocate their family or just visit for a few days and woos you with her best southern hospitality and good Nelson County bourbon. A vital part of the unprecedented economic growth of Bardstown and Nelson County, Kim works side-by-side with City and County officials, making Bardstown one of the most celebrated communities in the U.S.  Bardstown’s accolades come from national media including the New York Times, Forbes, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, Travel and Leisure and Site Selection Magazine, just to name a few.

After retiring in 2024, Kim has dedicated herself to assisting various communities in developing economic development structure and fostering community efforts and uses her proven knowledge and success to help communities in assessing their strengths and opportunities. Kim has consulted in 10 states in the U.S. and spent two weeks in Australia speaking to communities and regions sharing regional economic development ideas.

Additionally, Kim shares insights with groups about her first-hand knowledge of the resurgence of bourbon industry as well as its impact on her community, renowned as the Bourbon Capital of the World.

To learn more about how Kim can help your community, contact her at kimhustonllc@gmail.com.

• Kentucky County Judges Association
• Blueprint Jurian Bay – Jurian Bay, Australia
• Kentucky League of Cities
• Villagewell Small Town Conference – Melbourne, Australia
• Creative Cities Conference – Lexington, Kentucky
• Wheatbelt Development Commission – Northam, Australia
• Create West Virginia – Huntington, West Virginia
• Caldwell County Area Business Association – Breckenridge, Missouri
• State Agriculture and Rural Leaders Summit – Orlando, Florida
• Rural Partners of Michigan – Thompsonville, Michigan
• Governor’s Conference on Rural Development – Kearney, Nebraska
• North Augusta South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
• Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs – Macom, Illinois
• Dickinson State University – Dickinson, North Dakota
• Main Street North Dakota Summit – Bismarck, North Dakota

What was it that gained Bardstown the national recognition as the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America”? Picture a place so unique that church steeples dot the skyline and bourbon warehouses pepper the landscape.

No other book has taken you on such a visual journey of Bardstown as it extends far past historical treasures. BARDSTOWN brings the town to life and takes you from the downtown to the farmland with images of events and celebrations and many stunning never-seen-before aerial views.

Author Kim Huston chronicles her love affair with Bardstown with 161 poignant images from the most talented photographers who call Bardstown and Nelson County home. They capture the essence of the personality and soul of this enchanting small town and illustrate what makes Bardstown such an inviting place to spend a day or maybe even a lifetime.

Small town America has a seductive allure according to economic developer and author Kim Huston of Bardstown, Kentucky who tells all in her popular book SMALL TOWN SEXY, the allure of living in small town America.

Are small towns sexy? Absolutely! Author and speaker Kim Huston refers to the word “sexy” as being an interesting, engaging, pleasing and fascinating place to live work and play.

SMALL TOWN SEXY is a book you will not be able to put down once you start it and if you don’t already live in a small town, it will have you packing your bags.

This book features some of Kim’s stories and experiences as a life-long small town aficionado. Small Town Sexy is not a travel guide or a book of rankings or statistics, but a book that highlights the attributes of small towns and discusses day-to-day challenges. She wants all to know that small America is not your ‘Mayberry’ anymore and that you CAN do big business in a small town.

Bourbon’s popularity is now a global phenomenon, but you need only look at Bardstown, Kentucky, to see its remarkable and evolving impacts. This historic city of 13,500 people is booming as a result, but it’s also enduring growing pains.

The economic impacts from a massive influx of tourists to what is now America’s bourbon epicenter are positive on many levels, but with those crowds comes pressure on infrastructure, services and accommodations. The demand for hotels, bars and restaurants is at an all-time high, and investors from across the globe are addressing those needs.

Still, as a two-century-old Kentucky cultural and entertainment center – long before it was discovered by bourbon drinkers – many locals want to ensure the traditional Bardstown experience doesn’t disappear amid novel entertainment options.

The Rebirth of Bourbon tells the story of the rising popularity of bourbon and the opportunities, challenges, traditions, and most importantly, people who have pushed the industry forward in Bardstown. Many of the most popular names in bourbon today contributed quotes, stories, and their memories of the rise of the bourbon industry.