Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leaders from Tyson Foods for the grand opening of the company’s new, state-of-the-art food production facility at Bowling Green’s Kentucky Transpark. The $355 million plant will create nearly 450 full-time jobs and is among the largest investment, job-creation projects announced in Warren County.
“The economic success we’ve seen in Warren County in the last several years has been impressive,” said Gov. Beshear. “Tyson Foods has played a key role in Bowling Green’s economy for years, and today’s grand opening marks an exciting next chapter in the company’s long history serving the commonwealth. I want to thank Tyson Foods and its leadership for their continued belief in this great state and look forward to their continued success in Kentucky.”
Spanning 400,000 square feet, the facility is dedicated to producing popular Tyson Foods brands – Jimmy Dean and Wright Brand bacon – as well as bacon for food service. The plant is expected to output over two million pounds of bacon products each week, meeting escalating demand in retail and food service. Equipped with industry-leading technology, the advanced production facility features high-tech robotics for increased efficiency and workforce safety.
The nearly 450 new jobs created by the project will contribute to the local economy and workforce development. Tyson Foods has partnered with Western Kentucky University and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) to establish training programs that will equip the workforce with the skills needed in modern food production.
“We are excited to partner with the state of Kentucky to create jobs, improve workforce skills and contribute to the community of Bowling Green and Warren County,” said Donnie King, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. “We are grateful for the partnerships that made our advanced new food production facility possible.”
Tyson Foods Inc. is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein production. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under four generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands, including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, ibp and State Fair. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable and affordable, meeting customers’ needs worldwide. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company employs approximately 139,000 team members.
Warren County Judge/Executive Doug Gorman expressed his excitement for the project becoming operational: “The opening of Tyson Foods’ state-of-the-art facility is a landmark event for Warren County. It’s a symbol of economic growth and community development, promising a brighter future for our residents.”
Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott noted the economic impact this project will bring to the area: “Tyson Foods’ decision to build this advanced facility here is a significant vote of confidence in our community. This plant not only brings new jobs but also reinforces Bowling Green’s reputation as a desirable location for leading global companies.”
Ron Bunch, president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “The grand opening of Tyson Foods’ facility is a landmark moment for Bowling Green. It’s more than just a new building; it’s a beacon of economic transformation and a testament to our community’s potential for growth and innovation.”
Tyson Foods’ investment and job creation build on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $29.3 billion in announced investments, creating more than 51,700 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $591 million investment in Scott County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, and Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Kentucky’s credit outlook from stable to positive.
Site Selection magazine placed Kentucky first in the South Central region and top 5 nationally in its 2023 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear announced a “Supply Kentucky” initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in October 2021 preliminarily approved an incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.
Additionally, KEDFA approved Tyson Foods for further incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, Tyson Foods can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
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