(The Center Square) – Engineered Plastic Components-Columbia Inc. plans and expansion at its Lebanon, Kentucky location with a $3.6 million investment, Gov. Andy Beshear recently announced.
The plastic injection molding company will be using this investment to create 21 new full-time jobs, as well as to expand the Marion County manufacturing facility by 40,000 square feet, bringing its total footprint to almost 300,000 square feet. EPC-Columbia, Inc., through this investment, will now employ 430 people in the state.
“We are extremely excited to be expanding our operations and continue working within the Marion County community,” Reza Kargarzadeh, president of EPC-Columbia said. “I want to thank everyone who made this project possible, including the hard-working, dedicated employees of EPC-Columbia, local officials and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. We are thrilled to enter this next chapter as a company and look forward to continuing to provide quality products and services to our customers around the world.”
EPC-Columbia, Inc. entered into a 15-year incentive agreement in March with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority through the Kentucky Business Investment program. As the company maintains 21 full-time Kentucky resident jobs paying an hourly wage of $20.42 or higher, and invests at least $1 million into the region, the state will provide up to $350,000 in tax incentives.
“EPC’s expansion is another addition to the economic engine that continues to thrive in Marion County,” Lebanon Mayor Gary Crenshaw said. “The additional investment in capital and jobs add to the vibrant progressive vision we project as a community.”
Site Selection Magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central division for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings.
“The manufacturing sector is a staple of Kentucky’s booming economy,” Beshear said. “Having companies already established here in the commonwealth choosing to expand and grow their operations is a critical component of the state’s continued economic success. EPC-Columbia is providing quality job opportunities for Marion County and the surrounding community, and I congratulate the company on this exciting next step.”
