Gov. Matt Bevin announced Wink Equipment Inc. will locate an aluminum trailer manufacturing operation in Dawson Springs, bringing a projected $1.55 million investment and 50 full-time jobs.
“Kentucky offers incredible incentives to companies like Wink Equipment, not the least of which are our proximity to materials such as aluminum and steel, and our central location for shipping,” said Gov. Bevin. “The competitive edge that the Commonwealth offers businesses is invaluable. We are grateful to Wink Equipment for bringing new job opportunities to Dawson Springs and look forward to their success.”
The company will set up manufacturing operations in a 69,000 square-foot building where it plans to construct 400 to 600 aluminum side-dump trailers per year. Production is scheduled to begin in 2017. Side-dump trailers are in high demand in a variety of industries, especially for use regions where narrow mountain roads and high winds threaten the usability of traditional 50-foot frameless dump trailers. By manufacturing in high-strength aluminum, Wink claims its trailers weigh up to two tons less than their steel counterparts, offering truckers better fuel economy.
“We’re thrilled to start manufacturing in Western Kentucky. It’s a region I’ve known for years and, for our company, it offers the skilled workforce, raw materials and access to market we need,” said Jimmy Wink, the company’s president.
Having spent decades in the trucking industry using other company’s products, Wink founded American Trailer Mfg. in 1996 in Rockport, Ind. to bring to life his own aluminum trailer design innovations. He sold the company in 1999 but continued identifying ways to improve trailer functionality and reduce weight. With his brother, John Wink, they founded their current company seven years ago to design, test and patent their own products, which they manufacturer under the Wink Trailers and American Trailers Mfg. (ATM) brands.
Sen. C.B. Embry, of Morgantown, welcomed the company and the jobs it will bring to the area.
“I am pleased to welcome Wink Equipment to Dawson Springs,” he said. “This investment in our regional economy and the creation of 50 new Kentucky jobs are great news for the city and surrounding communities, and I wish this company the best in all their future endeavors.”
Rep. Myron Dossett, of Pembroke, commended Wink for its growth and said the company will be a great addition to the area.
“I want to congratulate and thank Wink Equipment on their newest investment here in Dawson Springs,” he said. “Wink Equipment’s commitment to our community will both stimulate our local economy and continue the growth of our region. I wish them great success as they continue to become strong economic partners of Hopkins and Caldwell counties, and look forward to seeing their future accomplishments.”
Dawson Springs Mayor Jenny Sewell said she looks forward to working with the community’s newest employer.
“Jobs are the very backbone of the economy of our city and of our working families,” she said. “The City of Dawson Springs is very pleased to have Wink Industries as our new corporate investor and neighbor.”
Hopkins County Judge-Executive Donald Carroll said the additional jobs are welcome news to local residents.
“We are excited to welcome Wink Equipment and its 50 new jobs to Hopkins County,” Judge Carroll said. “These are the kinds of good paying jobs we need in our community, particularly in Dawson Springs. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Wink Equipment and we look forward to their growth in Hopkins County.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in October preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $480,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
Wink also can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal 2016, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for nearly 95,000 Kentuckians and 5,000 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
For more information on Wink, visit www.winktrailercorp.com.
A detailed community profile for Hopkins County can be viewed at http://bit.ly/HopkinsCo.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.
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