Friday, February 22, 2008  Franklin, Kentucky (from the Franklin Favorite)

Another expansion at an existing Franklin industry could ultimately add 150 jobs to the plant’s current work force.

Harman/Becker announced a third expansion at its 152,000-square-foot facility on U.S. 31-W north. Construction on the expansion – which will include utilities and offices and human resource support facilities – will begin within the next few months and is expected to be completed in the July-September timeframe.

The plant currently employs 425 and will add the additional 150 employees during the next 18 months. Fifteen to 20 percent of the new positions will require highly specialized and technical skills.

“I am thrilled to learn that Harman/Becker plans to expand their facility in Franklin to add another 150 jobs and $10 million in investment,” County Judge/Executive Jim Henderson said. “Harman is definitely one of our premier industries. It speaks well four our community that they continue to expand their Simpson County facility.”

Mayor Jim Brown also praised Harman/Becker’s efforts.

“The dedicated team at Harman/Becker has been wonderful to work with,” Brown said. “I look forward to many more years of exciting news from Harman in Franklin. They are an ideal corporate citizen and provide some of the best jobs in all of southcentral Kentucky.”

The expansion at Harman/Becker is being done in order to support new high-technology digital electronics business with Toyota/Lexus as well as several new and existing customers, including Mercedes-Benz. The additional business to the Franklin facility will support new premium audio business with Subaru’s Indiana manufacturing facility, Hyundai/Kia’s Korea and Alabama manufacturing facilities and General Motors-Missouri and China manufacturing facilities. The majority of the production growth will be with the Mark Levinson hi-fi audio brand for Lexus manufacturing sites in Canada and Japan.

The Franklin plant currently produces JBL audio systems for Toyota and Mark Levinson systems for Lexus and ships to Toyota plants in Georgetown, Ky., Indiana, Texas, California, Canada and Japan. Harman/Kardon systems are produced for Mercedes-Benz in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Since plans began in July 1999 to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on the 51-acre site, Harman/Becker-Franklin has received support from state and local government and business officials. Harman has also benefited from five Bluegrass State Skills grants over the last eight years.

“The Harman/Becker expansion is certainly an exciting way to start off the year in Franklin,” F-S Industrial Authority Chairman Gary Broady said.

Broady also praised the efforts of several local, regional and state officials in making the expansion possible.

Simpson County’s two state legislators say Harman’s expansion is a positive for the entire region.

“The Harman/Becker expansion will have a positive impact not only on Simpson County but throughout the entire southcentral Kentucky region,” state Sen. Richie Sanders said.

“The economy in the Franklin-Simpson County area continues to remain strong mainly due to companies like Harman/Becker. Their expansion is going to mean great future economic development growth for the area,” state Rep. Rob Wilkey added.

Harman/Becker was named the community’s 2007 Industry of the Year. The company and its employees support numerous area initiatives, including Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Barren River Safe Space Shelter and Services, the F-S Arts Council and Boys & Girls Club.