FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2012) – Governor Steve Beshear today announced the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) will move into the former 5,000 sq. ft. Crescent Hill Woman’s Club facility in Louisville, creating 12 jobs and making a $525,000 investment.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “This is a national nonprofit organization that could have chosen any city in the country but chose Louisville. Their decision to come here demonstrates how Kentucky’s central location, great transportation options and vibrant workforce make for a winning combination.”
The NFCA was founded in the 1980s by collegiate softball coaches. One purpose is to educate coaches and the public in the game of softball by coordinating relationships between team members, college recruits, coaches and governing national organizations such as the NCAA. The NFCA hosts clinics, conventions, regional meetings and provides official publications to members.
The organization includes high school coaches, travel ball/club coaches, and other individuals with numbers totaling about 4,500 nationwide and 40 international members.
The NFCA will add 12 employees to the full-time staff of eight, who are currently located in Mississippi, Texas and New Hampshire. All staff members are expected to relocate to Louisville.
“The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is thrilled about moving to Kentucky and joining the Louisville community,” said Lacy Lee Baker, NFCA executive director. “The state and city have a long and extraordinary association with sport, so the relocation of our headquarters to this storied area only makes sense for our future growth. With Louisville’s central location and outstanding transportation options, competitive cost of living and growing interest in the sport of fastpitch softball, the decision was easy to make, especially when you add in the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority’s incentives that were approved earlier this year.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in Louisville, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $240,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
“This investment by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association is a credit to our community and to our workforce,” said Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, of Louisville. “I am always pleased to see a company growing and creating new jobs. Louisville will reap the rewards of economic growth and additional job opportunities. I am especially glad because of the association’s plans to establish a nonprofit facility to provide educational opportunities for learning more about the game of softball. I applaud Gov. Beshear for taking the lead to support our industry, their employees and their families.”
“This project is a major step forward for fastpitch softball and will give the already popular sport an even bigger boost,” said Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, of Louisville. “I’m glad that the state is helping to make this possible. The more young women we can get involved with this game, the better.”
“Louisville is quickly becoming a hotspot for sports entities and organized events, so we are very excited and think the National Fastpitch Coaches Association will find a great home in our community,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “Centralizing their operations in Louisville is a great move for them as well as for our local softball organizations, and we look forward to working with them.”
“The Louisville Sports Commission is focused on improving economic vitality through sports,” said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “Working with the NFCA leadership provided us with a real ‘home run.’ We now have a national governing body of sports calling Louisville home, solid proof that we have the community assets to ensure an NGB’s success. An added plus is the NFCA is dedicated to growing women’s fastpitch softball, which is a benefit to all the local supporters of women’s sports.”
“After a competitive 5-city search, we are thrilled that the National Fastpitch Coaches Association has selected Louisville for the headquarters,” said Eileen Pickett, executive vice president of Greater Louisville Inc. “Louisville’s rich sports heritage will be delightfully complemented by the addition of the NFCA, their competitive spirit and drive to increase female leadership in sports.”
For more information on NFCA, visit www.nfca.org.
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