FRANKFORT, Ky. — Companies continue to create high-paying jobs for Kentuckians. Ball Corp. announced today plans to create approximately 200 high-wage positions with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Bowling Green to produce recyclable aluminum ends for the company’s beverage can customers.
Ball executives expect to immediately start site preparation in the Kentucky Transpark to build a 500,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to begin production in early 2022. The operation – Ball’s first in the state – would provide the capacity to supply aluminum ends to Ball’s expanding North American network of beverage can manufacturing plants.
Company leaders plan to begin hiring later this year, and the facility ultimately will create nearly 200 jobs over the next five years. Positions will include production technicians, industrial electricians, machinists, material handlers, and leadership and support staff roles.
Ball joins more than 185 aluminum-related facilities in Kentucky employing over 20,000 Kentuckians full time. In 2020, companies within the industry announced seven new location or expansion projects in the state totaling $166 million in new investment and the creation of 137 full-time jobs.
Ball’s arrival in the commonwealth continues a trend of companies creating high-wage jobs throughout the state.
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in a special meeting on Thursday preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $6 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment and annual targets of:
Creation and maintenance of 198 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years; and Paying an average hourly wage of $45 including benefits across those jobs.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
Additionally, KEDFA approved Ball for up to $1.3 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development, and electronic processing.
In addition, Ball can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training, and job training incentives.
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