FRANKFORT, Ky. — Stratus Plastics International, a producer of injection-molded parts for motor vehicles, appliances, and consumer goods, will create 40 jobs while immediately expanding production at its Morgantown facility, with the potential for a total of 135 new positions in the years to come.
The number of new jobs expected to materialize at the facility in the coming years increased fivefold since August 2017, when company leaders first announced Stratus would locate a new manufacturing plant in Morgantown. Because a major motor vehicle manufacturer awarded Stratus additional production lines, Stratus leaders are in the process of hiring 40 employees to expand production at the Morgantown facility and meet this heightened demand. The company anticipates making dozens more future hires as it continues to expand in Kentucky.
The operation, Stratus’ first in Kentucky, opened in 2017 at a 165,000-square-foot facility with molding and warehousing capabilities. Since then, Stratus has invested millions of dollars in the plant while creating opportunities for residents of South Central Kentucky. The privately held Canadian company currently employs 45 workers at the Morgantown location, which produces automotive, industrial, and consumer products for customers in the U.S. Southeast and Midwest.
Stratus, based in Windsor, Ontario, supports multiple tier-one automotive suppliers and non-automotive customers as well. The company’s experienced management team brings direct knowledge of the industry and extensive research experience. Its Windsor operation employs more than 30 people and offers a wide range of injection-molding abilities at its headquarters as well as state-of-the-art machining, robotics, and auxiliary assembly equipment.
The company’s Kentucky operation is one of more than 520 automotive-related facilities operating statewide, which combine to employ more than 110,000 Kentuckians full time. As the No. 1 producer of motor vehicles in the U.S. per capita, Kentucky supports hundreds of automotive suppliers in addition to four OEMs. In 2020, despite the nationwide economic stagnation caused by the pandemic, Kentucky’s automotive industry announced nearly 1,000 new jobs and roughly $257 million in planned investment.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in a September meeting granted final approval of a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $2.235 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment, wage, and job-creation targets.
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.
In addition, Stratus 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.
For more information on Stratus Plastics, visit www.stratusplastics.com.
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