Home » Startup distiller E.J. Curley & Co. to create 52 jobs in Jessamine County

Startup distiller E.J. Curley & Co. to create 52 jobs in Jessamine County

Company to locate at the historic site of distillery by the same name

CAMP NELSON, Ky. — E.J. Curley & Co. plans to establish a facility in Jessamine County with a more than $5 million investment expected to create 52 full-time jobs.

The distillery will be located at Camp Nelson at the same site as the original E.J. Curley & Co. operation, which operated in Jessamine County from the late 1860s.

E.J. Curley’s investment includes the construction of a 22,500-square-foot facility at 7777 Old Danville Road at the Kentucky River Palisades at Camp Nelson, the home of the original E.J. Curley & Co. Distillery. The new distillery will offer two Kentucky mash bills that will reflect traditional bourbon whiskey, with plans to launch a first-of-its-kind Kentucky-blended international spirit in the near future.

An E.J. Curley & Co. Revival Tour is planned for later this year, a soft launch where visitors can buy spirits and mixed drinks, visit historic nature trails and enjoy other experiences. Spirits production is slated to begin by May 2022, along with the opening of a tasting room. Company leaders expect to welcome more than 100,000 visitors annually.

The Camp Nelson-based company is reviving the E.J. Curley name, which dates back to the Civil War era and was known as Kentucky River Distillery at the Kentucky Palisades following prohibition until the 1960s.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) 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 $350,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of over $5 million and annual targets of:

  • Creation and maintenance of 52 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years; and
  • Paying an average hourly wage of $37 including benefits across those jobs.

Additionally, KEDFA approved E.J. Curley for up to $50,000 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.

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, the company 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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