WINCHESTER, Ky. – State and local officials and representatives from Washington Penn Plastic Co. celebrated the beginning of construction for the company’s new manufacturing facility in Clark County, a nearly $105 million investment that will create 88 full-time, Kentucky jobs.
“It is an exciting time to be doing business here in the commonwealth, and companies throughout the U.S. and around the world are taking advantage of our state’s business-friendly environment,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “I am thrilled to be here today celebrating this welcomed next step for Washington Penn, the community of Winchester and the state’s manufacturing sector. I look forward to watching the company’s continued success here in Kentucky.”
The company’s new, nearly 250,000-s.f. facility will be located on 70 acres in Winchester and help the company produce polypropylene and polyethylene compounds in pellet form to be shipped to customers around the world. The land will also allow room for additional expansion efforts and solar electricity generation. The 88 full-time jobs created with this investment will include production line operators, shipping and receiving technicians, process engineers, supervisors and quality management roles. Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed in 2025.
“Washington Penn is excited to continue working with its partners in Kentucky and the Winchester community and to begin operations in Winchester,” said Will Torpey, president of Washington Penn.
Founded by the four Andy brothers in 1954 Washington, Pennsylvania, Washington Penn is a family-owned manufacturer. Today, it is a leading provider of polypropylene and polyethylene compounds. Washington Penn operates over 40 plastic compounding lines in eight facilities across North America, Asia and Europe, including a production facility in Frankfort, Kentucky, supplying custom polyolefin compounds to the automotive, appliance, construction, consumer, packaging and industrial markets.
“This is an exciting announcement. This project will add good-paying jobs and investment to our county,” said Clark County Judge/Executive Les Yates. “We want to welcome and thank Washington Penn for selecting Clark County for its continued growth and success.”
Winchester Mayor JoEllen Reed noted the company’s history in the plastics industry and welcomed Washington Penn to the community.
“This is outstanding for our community from a jobs and investment standpoint, but also because Washington Penn has such a rich history in the plastics industry and an outstanding reputation for quality and community,” Reed said. “We are thrilled that they have chosen Winchester for their next facility!”
Brad Sowden, executive director of the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Development Authority (WCCIDA), praised the teamwork that made the project happen, citing the WDDIDA board, Ashlee Chilton and her team at Kentucky’s Cabinet for Economic Development, R.J. Corman Railroad, the KPDI program and LG&E-KU’s Opportunity Kentucky Fund.
