Governor Steve Beshear joined local and company officials at an official welcome celebration for Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems Inc. The Germany-based automotive supplier is establishing a manufacturing operation in Russell Springs, creating 155 full-time jobs and investing more than $29 million in Kentucky.
“Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems is a world-class company with plants all over the globe,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are excited to have Dr. Schneider in the Commonwealth, and we welcome the 155 jobs and $29 million investment in Russell Springs. This is a company with a rich history and a promising future, and we’re especially happy to see it join our thriving auto industry.”
The 85-year-old family enterprise is a pioneer in the processing of plastics, and produces high-end vent and trim systems for top automotive original equipment manufacturers around the world. To meet increasing customer demand, the company is establishing a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary in Russell Springs, where the plant will manufacture parts for companies such as Ford, GM, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen.
“At the end of an intensive selection process where we checked 69 locations, we decided to choose Russell Springs,” said Wilhelm Wirth, member of the Dr. Schneider board of directors. “The decisive factors included the quality and expandability of the facility and the competitive location costs. The professional cooperation with the local and state business development departments confirmed our decision, as well. We are convinced that at this location we will be able to work more efficiently for our current customers, including Mercedes, BMW and Ford, and that we can win new partners.”
The location of Dr. Schneider further strengthens Kentucky’s automotive industry, which includes more than 450 motor vehicle-related facilities. At the mid-year point for 2013, Kentucky ranked third in light vehicle production in the United States and first on a per capita basis.
As a German-owned company, Dr. Schneider increases Kentucky’s foreign direct investment presence. There are approximately 60 German-based companies with facilities in Kentucky, employing more than 8,300 people. Kentucky maintains economic development offices in Hamburg, Germany and Tokyo, Japan, which work to cultivate new and existing relationships abroad for the Commonwealth.
“We welcome Dr. Schneider to our community,” said Sen. Chris Girdler, of Somerset. “We have every confidence that this relationship will only grow and prosper for many years to come.”
“Along with Gov. Beshear, I want to welcome Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems Inc. to our community,” said Rep. Jeff Hoover, of Jamestown. “We look forward to the company developing a long and fruitful relationship with the people of Russell County and are excited about the opportunities they bring to our economy and workforce.”
“The city of Russell Springs is fortunate that a company like Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems has chosen to locate in our city,” said Russell Springs Mayor Eric Selby. “The city of Russell Springs has partnered with Gov. Beshear and his staff along with Russell County Industrial Development Authority. We look forward to another global manufacturing company in Russell Springs, Kentucky.”
“The Russell County Fiscal Court is pleased to welcome Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems to Russell County,” said Russell County Judge-Executive Gary Robertson. “We look forward to the contribution this international company will make to our local economy in job creation and capital investment.”
To encourage the investment and job creation in Russell Springs, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $4 million 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 Dr. Schneider, visit www.dr-schneider.com/en/. To apply for jobs call or visit your local Kentucky Career Center, or for inquiries and requests for applications send an email to info_usa@dr-schneider.com.
Russell County has also been certified by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board as a Work Ready in Progress Community. The certification is an assurance to business and industry that the community is committed to providing the highly skilled workforce required in today's competitive global economy.
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.
A detailed community profile for Russell Springs (Russell County) can be viewed here.
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