The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Kentucky motorists will get a new license plate next year, with a smiling sun reminding people that "It's that friendly."

Kentucky's new license plate (AP photo) | ZOOM |

The tourism theme is designed to highlight the state's third-largest industry, which generated an estimated $8 billion in 2001.

The plate, which features a sunrise over a Kentucky hillside, will become the standard for most of the estimated 2.1 million motor vehicles, though there are more than 75 different plates in the inventory, from recognition for the Knights of Columbus to universities.

The first plates will be handed out next week as people begin renewing their vehicle registrations during their birth months.

The fee of $15 is the same as a standard renewal.

State law mandates a change in plate every five years and the new version replaces one that displays the outline of Kentucky as a cloud.

The top line of the new plate contains the state slogan, "The Bluegrass State."

The next line is the state name and then the tourism slogan.

A smiley-faced rising sun separates the letters and numbers.

The top is a blue sky with a reddish tint around the sunrise above green hills.

Tourism officials said, "Kentucky - It's that friendly," was chosen as the new slogan after market research indicated most visitors ranked the state's hospitality as a primary factor.