Ky. Lt. Gov. Abramson announces new company in Covington

COVINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson Monday afternoon announced that Westpack LLC will establish manufacturing operations in Covington, creating 63 new, full-time jobs.

The new plant represents a $4.49 million investment in Northern Kentucky.

Abramson joined officials from the city and Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, the region’s economic development agency, at Covington’s Artisan Enterprise Center for the announcement.

In late September, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval to Westpack LLC for $1.5 million in tax incentives to locate in Covington.

The glass decorating and packaging company said at the time that it was considering locating its manufacturing operations in Covington. The proposed project included the purchase of a 126,000 square foot facility and new machinery and equipment, according to a report from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

Westpack reported at the time that its average hourly wage would be $18. The company is a new expansion of Unipak, a glass bottling decorating company based in Russia.

Kentucky now has roughly 420 internationally based companies from 30 nations in the commonwealth, employing nearly 80,000 people, according to a news release issued after the announcement.

“Westpack is in the business of grabbing attention, and they certainly are turning heads here, choosing Northern Kentucky over anywhere in the world,” Abramson said in the release. “This is a tremendous day for this area and the Commonwealth as a whole, showing Kentucky makes a perfect home for major companies from across the globe.”

The new facility will be located on West 43rd Street. It will provide bottle decorating and packages and short-run decorations for special events and promotions, according to the release.

“We are told that large companies, especially international companies, look for places that are known for their diversity and inclusiveness when establishing new locations,” Covington Mayor Sherry Carran said in the release. “Covington is gaining a reputation for those very desired characteristics, and I believe it is why Westpack chose Covington for its new manufacturing plant. Westpack locating here is a boost to the momentum we have been experiencing and a boost to our Latonia neighborhood. We are honored to welcome Westpack to Covington.”

Westpack aims to have the new plant open by the first quarter of 2014.

If interested in applying, visit http://www.west-pack.com/ and click "contact us".