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One of Our Latest Industry Happenings! |
Wabash National® Corporation
To Locate
Manufacturing Facility in Simpson County
Semi trailer manufacturer to create 460 new jobs,
invest approximately $26 million in the region
February 28, 2008,
Frankfort, Kentucky
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Economic Development Cabinet
Secretary John Hindman today announced that Wabash National®
Corporation (NYSE; WNC), one of the leading manufacturers of semi
trailers in North America, will build a new manufacturing facility
in Franklin. The project is expected to result in up to 460 new
full-time jobs within two years of project completion.
“Kentucky is
pleased to welcome Wabash National as its newest corporate citizen,”
said Gov. Beshear. “The hundreds of employment opportunities that
will be created as a result of this new location will provide a
tremendous economic boost to the community of Franklin. I believe
the company will find the resources, including a first-class
workforce, low business costs, and a pro-business atmosphere, that
will allow it to grow and thrive in Kentucky.”
The company plans
to acquire 60 acres in the Sanders Interstate Industrial Park in
Simpson County and will construct a 300,000 square-foot facility.
Total project costs are estimated to be approximately $26 million.
“This has been an
outstanding project to work on and we are delighted in Wabash
National’s decision to make Kentucky its newest location,” said
Secretary Hindman. “We look forward to a continued partnership with
Wabash National for years to come.”
Established in 1985
and headquartered in Lafayette, Ind., Wabash National Corporation
specializes in the design and production of dry freight vans,
refrigerated vans, flatbed trailers, drop deck trailers and
intermodal equipment. Its innovative core products are sold under
the DuraPlate®, ArcticLite®, and Eagle® brand names.
The company
operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Transcraft® Corporation, a
manufacturer of flatbed and drop deck trailers; and Wabash National
Trailer Centers, trailer service centers and retail distributors of
new and used trailers and aftermarket parts throughout the U.S.
“The selection of
Kentucky as the location for this plant is the result of outstanding
collaboration between Wabash National, the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
and several local governmental and economic development entities,”
said Wabash National’s Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Joe
Zachman. “We would like to thank all of the individuals and
organizations who worked hard to help make Franklin, Kentucky the
location of choice.”
The Kentucky
Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Wabash
National Corporation this morning for tax benefits up to $4 million
under the Kentucky Industrial Development Act, an incentive program
designed to attract and expand manufacturing employment in the
state.
“It is certainly a
great day for Simpson County,” said Senator Richie Sanders. “Wabash
National is the premier trailer manufacturer in the world. We are
very excited to have them as a corporate citizen. I have been
fortunate enough to have visited their corporate headquarters and am
very impressed with the company and the management staff.”
“Franklin, Kentucky
and the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority continue to have
tremendous success in economic development,” said Representative Rob
Wilkey. “My congratulations to everyone involved in attracting this
top notch project to Simpson County.”
“This company makes
for a great addition to our industrial community,” said Simpson
County Judge Executive Jim Henderson. “The new technical college was
an important feature that made our site competitive against dozens
of other sites throughout the Southeast.”
“We are elated to
be chosen as the site for this facility,” said Franklin Mayor Jim
Brown. “We have been greatly impressed with the management team of
Wabash National and feel positively that this company will greatly
enhance the quality of life in our community. The project with its
size and scope is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
A
community profile for Simpson County can be found at:
http://www.thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=079.
A
profile of the Sanders Interstate Industrial Park can be found at:
http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/Sites/SiteProfile.aspx?SiteID=213-010
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