Baker Hired to Lead Hancock Economic Development effort in Partnership with the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp.

Mike Baker, a former plant manager in the Hancock County aluminum industry, was hired by the Hancock County Industrial Foundation to serve as an interim leader of economic development efforts in Hancock County. He will also forge a new regional economic partnership with the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation as part of a new agreement between the two agencies.

Baker, who retired this year as the General Manager of the Aleris aluminum rolling mill in Lewistport after a 20 year career in the aluminum and manufacturing industries, will serve as an interim until the end of this year.

“Mike brings a wealth of industry experience to the position in Hancock County,” said David Hamilton, the chair of the Hancock County Industrial Foundation. “His insight and expertise in the aluminum industry will be especially valuable in working with many of the existing industries in the region.”

Part of his role as interim, Baker will join the economic development team at the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation to advance a regional approach to economic development. The two agencies have agreed to terms of a partnership that would foster communication regarding economic development “joint” prospects and working in tandem with those prospects and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to match the strengths of each community to the needs of the prospect. The EDC would include sites in Hancock County as part of its marketing and recruitment efforts.

“We are far stronger working together as a region,” said Hamilton. “This level of collaboration will benefit both communities and the region overall.”

“Hancock County has some of the best property in the eastern United States with river, rail, and highway access,” said EDC President/CEO Nick Brake. “Owensboro-Daviess County does not have the same abundance of land available out of the flood plain, but we do have amenities that are attractive to industry that we can work together to recruit.”

Baker will officially be employed by the Hancock County Industrial Foundation and the position, based in Hawesville, will be funded by the Hancock County Fiscal Court.

The position will work on a day-to-day basis with the Hancock County government and Brake, as EDC President. The organizations will also collaborate through shared board appointments, workforce development activities, and existing industry efforts.

US Bank Facility and Job Growth on Schedule

The finishing touches are being put on a new home mortgage facility in Owensboro, and a lot of new jobs come with the territory U.S. Bank announced this spring it would add 300 jobs to its operations in Owensboro. Now, the new facility off the U.S. 60 Bypass and Highway 54 is starting to take shape.

"There's quite a bit of growth going on out in that area, but the new building is up, we're on schedule to move in in mid-September," Jennifer Garris with U.S. Bank said.

Nick Brake of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation said these 300 professional, back-office employees are just the kind of jobs he's trying to attract to the community.

"They are what we would classify as professional, back-office positions, something we're trying to focus and target a little bit in our community as we look at as we grow in the future," Brake said.

Some say the majority of new jobs will come from existing companies in the community like U.S. Bank, not new companies moving into the area.

U.S. Bank has about 850 workers on the payroll in Owensboro. The new facility opens in the fall.

KBP bringing Plant-based Therapeutics Symposium to Owensboro: Conference to feature leading experts in Plant Made Pharmaceuticals

Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP), the Owensboro Cancer Research Program (OCRP) and Sullivan University College of Pharmacy will host a Plant-Based Therapeutics Symposium July 15-16 in Louisville and Owensboro.

Presentations will address the latest innovations in plant-based pharmaceutical (PMP) research, development and commercialization and will feature some of the world’s leading experts in the emerging bio-pharmaceutical production platform. Those scheduled to present include:

• Dr. Jeanne Novak, President and CEO of Boulder, Colorado-based CBR International. Novak has led interaction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other international regulatory bodies for a number of PMP product candidates. CBR provides high-level strategic, clinical development and regulatory consulting for the pharmaceutical industry.
• Dr. Charles Arntzen, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccinology, the Biodesign Institute and Florence Ely Nelson Presidential Chair of Arizona State University.
• Dr. Yuri Gleba, Managing Director for Icon Genetics, a Bayer GmbH subsidiary focused on developing new biopharmaceuticals and high-value protein products using green plants as production hosts.

The Wednesday, July 15 sessions will take place in Louisville at Sullivan University College of Pharmacy, located at Bardstown Road and the Watterson Expressway. The first day’s sessions will focus on product development and recent advances in PMP research. On Thursday, conference attendees will travel by bus to Owensboro and KBP where the program will be directed to commercialization and business opportunities.

To register for the conference, contact Allison Koch at 502-413-8955 or email akoch@sullivan.edu.

New tax credits available to qualifying companies

One of the major initiatives passed in the special session of the Kentucky General Assembly last week was a rewrite of the state's business incentives. The bill was sponsored by Owensboro Representative Tommy Thompson. A summary of the major changes introduced by the bill is below. Manufacturers: Assistance for existing manufacturers who need to make significant capital investments in Kentucky facilities in order to remain competitive, preventing loss of jobs to competitor states $2.5 million minimum new investment Existing manufacturers may recover up to 50% of the cost for new equipment and 100% of training costs through income tax credits Technology-based Firms: Provide a sales and use tax refund for companies that are heavy users of computer and telecommunications equipment Must invest at least $100 million in computer or telecommunications equipment for installation and use in Kentucky Systems must be an integral part of the product or service that is the primary business of the new or expanding firm Expand the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA) to allow companies to receive sales tax refunds for the purchase of electronic processing systems costing at least $50,000 Can be combined with sales tax credits for construction costs to provide a significant savings for projects investing $500,000 Small Businesses (50 or less employees): Small business must create one new job and retain that job for one year Must also invest at least $5,000 in qualifying equipment The maximum amount of credit for each small business for each year shall not exceed $25,000

Other incentives may be available depending on company circumstances or need. For more information or to schedule an appointment regarding these changes, please contact the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation at 270-926-4339 or email Sharla Austin-Darnell, Existing Industry Manager at sdarnell@owensboro.com

Sazerac Expansion Underway

Plans are proceeding with the recently announced acquisition and expansion of one of Daviess County’s long time employers. Sazerac North America, which purchased Constellation Spirits in Owensboro and Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, is rapidly progressing with a project that will create 50 new jobs and invest millions of dollars in the local community. Additional opportunities are seen for the Frankfort facilities as well.

An aerial photo submitted by the company illustrates the 300,000 sq. ft. expansion that will allow for additional business and new technology on the current property in Owensboro. According to Plant Manager Donald Kelley, “An automated 12,000 pallet storage system is a key part of the $13mm expansion that is geared to more fully utilize current facilities and equipment with additional shifts of operation.”

Sazerac Company, Inc., founded in 1850 and headquartered in New Orleans, is one of the top 10 producers and marketers of spirits and wines in the United States. The Kentucky projects were approved for tax benefits under the Kentucky Industrial Development Act for up to $3.28 million by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA).

New Leadership Program Announced with EDC and Chamber Partnership

Developing leaders and utilizing their talents for the betterment of the community and their employers is the goal of the Emerge Owensboro, which was announced today as a joint program of the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation.

Emerge Owensboro is a nine-month curriculum that will expose participants to community issues as well as teach leadership skills. The class is open to any resident of the community and Chamber members are encouraged to apply.

"Owensboro and Daviess County are on the edge of many positive developments," says Chamber President Jody Wassmer, "and it's important for people to learn and grow with the community."

"Local business and industry tell us they need employees who have workplace leadership skills and that will be a big focus for Emerge Owensboro," explains Economic Development Corporation President Nick Brake.

A full-day program titled "Looking Out, Looking In, Looking Ahead" will start the program on September 10th. Most classes will consist of half-day sessions on the second Thursday of each month through May 2010. Participants are also expected to attend the monthly Chamber of Commerce Rooster Booster Breakfast. Class members will have a number of required activities, including a group project.

The tuition cost for Emerge Owensboro is $395. Class applications can be downloaded from the Chamber of Commerce website here and returned by July 17th. Class notification will be made by August 14th.

EDC Launches GO-iNtern Program to Attract and Retain Young Talent

In response to local industry concerns regarding the recruitment and retention of top, young talent; the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. spent a considerable amount of time in 2008 exploring methods to combat the loss of this hot commodity. Regardless of the size or amenities of a city, the issue of ‘brain drain’ is a popular one. “What we consistently hear from local industries is that bringing a young, educated professional to Owensboro isn’t a problem. Getting them to stay sometimes is,” said Nick Brake, President/CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. While the public investment in downtown, development of the Centre for Business and Research, and more high-tech job opportunities are steps in the right direction, cities such as Tulsa, OK; Dubuque, IA; and Duluth, MN have chosen to be proactive through unique internship programs as well.

The Owensboro edition of this idea, GO-iNTERN, launches tomorrow June 5, 2009 at the Commerce Center. GO-iNTERN combines a website, community involvement and learning experience in a unique format designed not only to find local opportunities for students to work, but to connect to the community through monthly networking events as well. “Our hope is that students will come to the website, apply for an internship, and participate in the monthly events. In the end, not only will they have had a great experience with a local company, but also in the city itself, and Owensboro ranks a little higher on their list of places to live upon graduation,” said Brake.

Upcoming events will include a luncheon with Mayor Ron Payne and Judge Reid Haire, a tour of downtown, and a networking event with the Chamber Young Professionals. A finale is currently being planned for the summer cohort, but GO-iNTERN will be an ongoing program with new opportunities each semester. Businesses looking to hire interns for the fall or spring semesters are encouraged to contact GO-EDC now in order to ensure their opportunity is listed on the website. GOEDC will market the internships to local and regional universities at career fairs this fall.

To view internships, post an opportunity or find more information, visit http://intern.owensboro.com.