Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined local leaders in Mercer County and executives from Earth Breeze, a producer of environmentally friendly laundry detergent sheets, to cut the ribbon on an approximately $5.9 million operation in Harrodsburg that is creating 226 full-time Kentucky jobs.
“This is yet another great manufacturing project for the commonwealth and an incredible job-creation opportunity for Mercer County and the surrounding region,” Gov. Beshear said. “I am proud to celebrate the tremendous progress of this project in just two short months. I can’t wait to see it fully operational in the very near future.”
The ribbon cutting signifies a rolling start to operations at the more than 81,000-square-foot facility as the project enters the testing phase. The location will be home to several aspects of the company’s production process, including the blending of its proprietary eco-friendly formulation, drying and processing, cutting and packaging, order fulfillment operations, quality control laboratory testing and research and development. Positions created at the facility include production operators, quality control specialists and planning/administrative associates and managers.
“This marks an exciting milestone for Earth Breeze as we officially open our first U.S. manufacturing facility here in Harrodsburg, Kentucky,” said Ben Smith, chief operating officer at Earth Breeze. “This plant represents more than just a new manufacturing operation – it’s a symbol of our commitment to innovation, domestic manufacturing and creating skilled jobs in communities that are building for the future. We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding support and efficiency we received from both local and state governments, which played a critical role in bringing this project to life at an incredible pace. We’re proud to call Kentucky home and to contribute to the continued growth of this region.”
Founded in 2019, Earth Breeze’s products ensure clean laundry without harsh chemicals like optical brighteners, artificial dyes, parabens, phthalates or preservatives. For every order, Earth Breeze donates laundry detergent to shelters and disaster relief organizations. As part of this initiative, the company has partnered with more than 800 shelters, community organizations and disaster relief groups to provide more than 300 million loads of detergent to those in need. Earth Breeze has also sponsored the cleanup of over 999,000 pounds of plastic across the United States and around the globe.
Greyson Evans, executive director of the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Industrial Development Authority, noted the positive impact the company has already made: “Harrodsburg, Mercer County and our industrial authority couldn’t be more thrilled for Earth Breeze and our community. Ever since this project was announced, the Earth Breeze team has been wonderful to work with and is already dedicated to being a great corporate citizen and to making an impact here in Harrodsburg. We wish them nothing but the best, will be here to help them at every step along the way, and are very grateful for the awesome jobs they’ll be bringing to our community. We hope this is the first big announcement of many, as we hope to soon begin the development of the Wilkinson Megasite – a property that we believe will compete nationally for a top-tier project!”