HORSE CAVE, Ky. (March 19, 2015) – A southcentral Kentucky auto supplier is expanding. Gov. Steve Beshear joined company officials and local leaders today to announce that Kentucky Chrome Works LLC (KCW) plans to grow its operations in Hart County.
KCW, which provides chrome services for the automotive aluminum alloy wheel industry, is expected to create 63 new jobs over 10 years and invest $707,000 into the project.
"In 2010, we were celebrating Kentucky Chrome Work's arrival to the Commonwealth," said Gov. Beshear. "Five years later – to the month – I'm pleased to be in Horse Cave again to celebrate the company's announcement of a significant expansion. I want to congratulate KCW on its success and thank its management and employees for being a vital part of Kentucky's thriving automotive industry."
KCW and its partners were recently designated as the sole suppliers of bright chrome wheels to the Corvette Assembly Plant through model year 2020. To meet this new demand, the company plans to build a 20,000-square-foot warehouse next to its current facility on Bluegrass Avenue. The added space will support KCW's polishing and chrome plating operations.
"KCW is most grateful to Gov. Beshear, the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Hart County Industrial Authority and city and county officials for their continuous support of KCW and our mission to provide meaningful opportunities to the citizens of southcentral Kentucky," said company president and owner Ray Carcione. "Over the course of the past year, KCW has invested over $300,000 in new capital equipment to support the expansion of our operations. KCW also has worked hard to help identify the educational needs of the regional business community and effect meaningful change in providing those resources on a local level."
KCW began operations in Horse Cave in 2010. The company currently employs 59 full-time workers and 25 full-time equivalents, who will have the opportunity to become full time workers.
"I am pleased that Horse Cave has proven to be a great fit for Kentucky Chrome Works," said Sen. Carroll Gibson, of Leitchfield. "I appreciate the people affiliated with Kentucky Chrome and our local officials for making this expansion possible."
"We are proud to have Kentucky Chrome Works in Horse Cave and Hart County," said Horse Cave Mayor Randall Curry. "They are a very good corporate citizen that works and blends in well with our community. The additional expansion and job creation is a valuable addition to our community."
"On behalf of the citizens in Hart County, we are excited about Kentucky Chrome Works' expansion," said Hart County Judge-Executive Terry Martin. "We would like to thank Gov. Beshear and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development for their help in this project."
To encourage investment and job growth in Hart County, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives of up to $425,000 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.
For more information on Kentucky Chrome Works, visit www.kentuckychromeworks.com.
A detailed community profile for Horse Cave (Hart County) can be viewed here.