Bowling Green, KY, Oct. 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In conjunction with the celebration of Manufacturing and Industry Week, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce announced today that German-based BILSTEIN GROUP will establish a production plant in South Central Kentucky.
Their addition to the Kentucky Transpark will create 90 new full-time jobs and a capital investment of $120 million in the Commonwealth.
"It is with great pleasure that Kentucky welcomes Bilstein Group as its newest corporate citizen, one that will significantly enrich the South Central Kentucky region, as well as the entire Commonwealth," said Gov. Beshear. "The fact that world-class companies such as Bilstein Group continue to choose Kentucky as the destination for their global operations speaks volumes for the pro-business climate and workforce quality we have to offer. I congratulate Bilstein Group on its continued growth and look forward to building upon our partnership for years to come."
"We have experienced not only an extremely professional and solution-focused support from both the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as the city of Bowling Green and Warren County to get this project started, but also felt a lot of passion and personal effort from everyone involved in this project, and I am very grateful for that," said Marc Oehler, CEO of Bilstein. "I am still excited to see the enthusiasm of all team members within BILSTEIN GROUP and within the Kentucky/Bowling Green team including Governor Steve Beshear who even found time to visit our facilities in Germany during the preparation period of this project. Besides the perfect fit of the selected site to our ideas and plans, the spirit we found in Kentucky and within the team was a major reason to choose Bowling Green as our premier location in the U.S."
BILSTEIN NORTH AMERICA is the exclusive sales and technical arm of BILSTEIN GROUP and produces cold-rolled strip steel products. They offer steels in various types and grades for a multitude of processing methods to various industries, predominately the automotive industry.
"BILSTEIN is a perfect addition to our region and we are proud to have such an innovative international company choose South Central Kentucky to call home," said Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Brad Howard.
The new plant will allow BILSTEIN to serve major players in the automotive and automotive supply industry. Products made using cold rolled steel include automatic transmissions and clutches, automobile safety parts, seat track and seat structure parts.
"The addition of internationally known automotive suppliers such as BILSTEIN truly makes South Central Kentucky a hub for the automotive industry. We couldn't be more pleased to welcome BILSTEIN to the community," said Mayor Bruce Wilkerson.
"South Central Kentucky has experienced record growth because innovative companies such as BILSTEIN continue to choose to locate here," stated Intermodal Transportation Authority Chairman Gary Dillard. "It's a mutually beneficial relationship. We provide BILSTEIN with infrastructure and transportation logistics that are unrivaled and they allow us to be a part of their continued success by investing in the Kentucky Transpark."
The collaborative leadership within the region and state has helped make projects such as this one possible and contributed to the South Central Kentucky region's impressive economic growth.
"We are truly grateful to our partners throughout the community and across the state of Kentucky that continue to help grow South Central Kentucky," expressed Howard. "It takes everyone's support to help bring a business like BILSTEIN to Bowling Green. This would not be the successful city that it is today without this collaboration."
Individuals from the various organizations across the Commonwealth, including TVA and WRECC, came together to assist Bilstein in the approval and development of this project.
"TVA and Warren RECC are pleased to partner with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Bowling Green Area Chamber and local community leaders to help facilitate BILSTEIN's first U.S. location, which will result in new jobs and prosperity for the region," said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley.
A special event will be held in October to thank members of the city, county and state whose support helped make this project possible.
"The organizations in our community collaborate because we all have one goal in mind; to make South Central Kentucky the place to be," stated Warren County Judge-Executive Michael Buchanon. "We are honored to have BILSTEIN chose this area to call home and we look forward to their success here."
BILSTEIN is the fourth Economic Development announcement for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce this year for a total investment of more than $200 million and the creation of nearly 350 new jobs.
For more information on BILSTEIN, visit http://www.bilstein-north-america.com/.
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About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce:
Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,100 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.