Kentucky State Seal

*OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR*








*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*




*Contact:??*

?

*Crystal Staley*
*502-545-3714*
"[email protected]"

*Scottie Ellis
502-330-1722
*"[email protected]" <[email protected]>






*Gov. Beshear Announces $274.9 Million in New Business Investment, Creating 316 Full-Time Jobs and Retaining 215 Full-Time Jobs*

"Team Kentucky Update highlights good economic development news, an update on sports betting, commemorates Overdose Awareness Day and more"

*FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 31, 2023)* ? Today, Gov. Andy Beshear celebrated continued economic development in the commonwealth as he announced $274.9 million in new business investment this week, generating 316 full-time jobs and retaining 215 full-time jobs for Kentuckians.

?Kentucky is emerging as a true economic leader because businesses from around the world know that Kentuckians get things done,? said *Gov. Beshear*. ?I want to thank these 10 companies for choosing to invest in Kentucky. I am grateful for the hundreds of quality jobs these announcements are bringing to our state and know there are more to come.?

Today?s announcements, which were approved by the "Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority", include:


* Safran Landing Systems Kentucky is investing $65 million in Boone County, creating 92 new full-time jobs. The company produces and refurbishes advanced carbon composite brake disks and produces aluminum alloy wheels and brakes for large commercial and military aircraft.
* San Francisco-based Bespoken Spirits announced [ [link removed] ] plans to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Greyline Station in Lexington, showcasing continuing growth in Kentucky?s signature bourbon and spirits sector. The $3.2 million relocation will create 16 new high-wage jobs paying an average hourly wage of $70.77 including benefits.
* HVAC Distributing, a national wholesale distributor of heating and air conditioning equipment, announced [ [link removed] ] plans to expand its Graves County operations for a second time with a $5.35 million investment creating 40 full-time jobs.
* Winston Industries, a Kentucky-based multidivisional manufacturer of circuit boards and foodservice equipment, announced [ [link removed] ] it is investing $1.2 million to expand operations in Jefferson County. The investment will allow the company to retain 215 full-time jobs, add five new positions in the area and provide growth opportunities to existing employees.
* Allstate Tower, an entity of the Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group, announced [ [link removed] ] plans to expand manufacturing capabilities at its headquarters in Henderson with an $850,000 investment, creating 10 full-time Kentucky jobs.
* Kenlake Foods is investing $24 million in Calloway County, creating 15 new full-time jobs. The company has provided snack, baking and produce nuts to all Kroger retail divisions since 1982.
* Washington Penn is investing $104.9 million in Clark County, creating 88 new full-time jobs. The company produces plastic resins in pellet form for their customers to then manufacture plastic-based automotive, furniture and other consumer materials.
* Campari America, a major player in the global spirits industry with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, is investing $20 million in Anderson County.
* AATW, an owner and operator in the bourbon industry, announced plans to develop nine rickhouses in Lawrenceburg for increased storage, with an $11.8 million investment in Anderson County.
* Levy Environmental Services Co., which specializes in the manufacture of products for construction, cement, glass and agricultural markets, announced a $38.6 million investment in Carroll County, creating 50 full-time jobs.

The Governor also recapped [ [link removed] ] Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman?s visit to Bowling Green on Tuesday, where she joined executives from augmented reality and engagement software company MyXR to cut the ribbon on its new regional headquarters at the Western Kentucky University Innovation Campus in Bowling Green, a project that is expected to create over 60 full-time jobs.

Showing his commitment to building on these and other economic development announcements in the commonwealth, the Governor also announced [ [link removed] ] today that over $1.3 million in state funding was approved by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority to support land and building development and encourage economic growth and quality jobs across two sites in Graves and Harrison counties.

During the Team Kentucky Update, Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Coleman also announced new grants through the Victims of Crime Act, updated Kentuckians on sports betting, provided an update on Eastern Kentucky flood recovery, shared new drug seizure statistics, announced new Justice Assistance Grants and recognized Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day. The Governor also named advocates fighting addiction in the commonwealth as this week?s Team Kentucky All-Stars.

*Victims of Crime Act Grants*
Lt. Gov. Coleman announced that this year?s federal Victims of Crime Act grant funding includes $27.2 million to assist victims of violent crime in the commonwealth. This year?s funding was awarded to 114 organizations across Kentucky. To learn more, see the full release [ [link removed] ].

?Since day one, the Beshear-Coleman administration has been committed to increasing access to victim services in every corner of the commonwealth,? said *Lt. Gov. Coleman*. ?The groups receiving funding today work tirelessly to make every possible resource available to crime victims on their journey to healing and obtaining justice ? and we are proud to support them.?

*Sports Betting*
With the launch of in-person sports betting only one week away, today, Gov. Beshear announced the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission?s Sports Wagering Advisory Council released a Wagering Catalog [ [link removed] ] for sports betting. This initial catalog will be effective for the opening of retail sports wagering on Sept. 7. To learn more, see the full release [ [link removed] ].

?Kentuckians now know where they can place a bet and the type of sporting events and wagers that licensees can offer,? said *Gov. Beshear*. ?Making sports betting available in Kentucky is what Kentuckians have long wanted, and I want to again thank all of you for pushing for years to make this a reality.?

*Eastern Kentucky Flood Update*
Gov. Beshear provided an update on recovery and rebuilding efforts in Eastern Kentucky. Currently, 65 families are housed in travel trailers, and 318 households have transitioned out of the Commonwealth Sheltering Program in Eastern Kentucky.

As of Aug. 30, 739 survivors received the maximum FEMA grant, bringing the total Housing Assistance maximum grants to over $28 million.

As of this week, FEMA approved over $43.7 million in awards to help survivors receive money for their property. The Emergency Watershed Protection Home Buyout Program is providing funding for 265 properties from Perry County, the City of Jackson, Breathitt County, Letcher County, Knott County and Floyd County.

The Governor also announced two new awards from the Western Kentucky SAFE Fund. Fulton County was awarded $19,882 for the cost of managing a helpline for tornado survivors. The city of Bowling Green received $1.5 million for the establishment of a small business accelerator for impacted businesses needing help to recover.

*Overdose Awareness Day*
Today, Gov. Beshear joined advocates and law enforcement to proclaim Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day.

The Governor provided an update from the Counterdrug Program, which includes Kentucky State Police, Kentucky National Guard, Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Agency.

In the first quarter of 2023 alone, enough fentanyl was seized by the Counterdrug Program that could have caused certain death for more than 28.9 million people. As of August, the team seized 171 pounds of fentanyl this year, compared with 107 pounds last fiscal year, representing a nearly 60% increase in the seizure of fentanyl by pound. In addition, the Counterdrug Program has seized 153,718 fentanyl pills, compared to 5,100 pills last fiscal year, representing a more than 2,900% increase in the seizure of fentanyl pills.

The Governor also commended the Kentucky State Police, who work with multiple agencies to remove dangerous drugs from our communities.

To commemorate the day, Gov. Beshear also announced that his administration is awarding $2.1 million in grant funding to 14 law enforcement agencies and one nonprofit organization. The funding from Kentucky?s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant will be used to curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction. To learn more, see the full release [ [link removed] ].

?We are thankful for the work of these teams. We know this is difficult and dangerous work, and we are so grateful for these life-saving efforts,? said *Gov. Beshear*. ?This work is never-ending, but we will continue to fight this drug crisis with everything that we can because, as I?ve said time and time again, one Kentuckian lost to drug overdose is one too many.?

*Team Kentucky All-Stars*
Gov. Beshear named advocates fighting addiction across the commonwealth as this week?s Team Kentucky All-Stars.

?I cannot overstate how important the work is that you all do in your communities. You give your neighbors a lifeline, a helping hand ? and you let them know they are not alone when they need it most,? said *Gov. Beshear*. ?To each and every one of you, thank you. Every single action being taken is making a difference.?

*Megan Coldiron*, senior vice president of business operations for Addiction Recovery Care, said, ?Overdose Awareness Day means to me that we get to be the messenger, telling the story of the ones we?ve loved and lost ? so that in their passing, others may get to live.??

*###*






TEAM KENTUCKY [ [link removed] ]

Questions? Contact us [ [link removed] ]

Facebook [ [link removed] ] ? Twitter [ [link removed] ] ? Instagram [ [link removed] ] ? YouTube [ [link removed] ] ? GovDelivery [ [link removed] ]

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ] ?|? Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ] ?|? Help [ [link removed] ]

View or Share Online [ [link removed] ]





________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Governor of Kentucky ? 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100 ? Frankfort, KY 40601 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]