Earth Breeze Ribbon Cutting May Possibly Be In April
The future home of Earth Breeze on Morgan Soaper Drive in Harrodsburg. (File image).
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Earth Breeze could possibly hold a ribbon cutting ceremony as soon as April.
That’s according to Greyson Evans, executive-director of the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Industrial Development Authority.
In February, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Earth Breeze, a producer of environmentally friendly laundry detergent sheets, would be locating a facility in Harrodsburg. The facility is valued at roughly $5.9 million and will create 226 jobs. The new 81,250-square-foot facility will handle multiple aspects of the Earth Breeze 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. The 226 new positions will span various skill levels and departments, from facility director and production operators to quality control specialists and planning/administrative associates and managers, according to the state. The property is located on Morgan Soaper Drive in Harrodsburg and was developed by Hilpp’s Mercer County TM Properties LLC.
Evans made the announcement at the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Industrial Development Authority’s regular meeting on Tuesday, March 19. He thanked Fred Hilpp for building the factory and his other efforts to get a new industry here in Harrodsburg. Evens said he was talking to Earth Breeze three days a week by phone or text. He said they were planning hiring events locally and through Bluegrass Area Development District. Evans said he was meeting with officials from Earth Breeze Meeting to discuss plant security. Evans said the tentative date for the ribbon cutting is Thursday, April 24, subject to Gov. Beshear’s schedule.
“We ought to know by the end of the month,” Evans said.
Harrodsburg may possibly be getting more good news soon. Last week, the Harrodsburg City Commission approved a resolution for Project Silent Falcon, which could possibly create economic growth and more job opportunities. The resolution authorizes the city to apply for a $1 million community development block grant for the location and start up of a research and development and manufacturing facility. The city commission also approved participating in the Kentucky Business Investment program in which the city and the Mercer County Fiscal Court would forgive half percent off the occupational tax over the next 10 years. This is similar to the program the city and county resolved to participate in before Earth Breeze agreed to open a manufacturing facility in Harrodsburg. The Mercer County Fiscal Court also voted to approve the program.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority has preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with Earth Breeze under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement could provide up to $2.4 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $5.89 million and annual targets of creating and maintaining 226 full-time jobs across 10 years and paying an average hourly wage of $30.96, including benefits.
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, according to the state. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and wage assessments.
According to the state, Earth Breeze may also 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.
On Tuesday, Evans told the industrial development authority board he hopes to have Ben Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Earth Breeze, at a future meeting. Evans also discussed holding annual meetings with local industry.
“A lot going on,” said Chairman John Trisler, “which is good news.”
