Pike project that would hire 30 people is approved for $18 million in tax incentives

Aug. 28--The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on Thursday approved tax incentives for several companies, including RCC Big Shoal and DHL Express.

The approval of tax incentives outlines the state's commitment to a project should it occur in Kentucky.

In general, when a company accepts the tax incentive, it can keep that amount of money, which it would otherwise pay in taxes, assuming it fulfills the terms of the deal.

RCC Big Shoal told the finance authority that is it considering a $193 million investment in Pike County for a new facility to produce synthetic oil products. It has developed a technology to convert natural gas to synthetic diesel fuel, synthetic base and lubricant oils and synthetic naphtha.

It has negotiated $18 million in state tax incentives. The company has projected hiring of 30 employees with average hourly wages excluding benefits of $34.16.

Other projects receiving approval from the KEDFA board Thursday for tax incentives include:

-- $900,000 in tax incentives for DHL Express in Erlanger for a $45.6 million expansion, which would create up to 100 jobs earning an average of $23.50 per hour including benefits.

-- $1 million in tax incentives for Intelligrated Systems of Danville for a $1.6 million investment to expand its manufacture of conveyor systems. The addition would create 50 jobs making an average hourly wage of $25 an hour including benefits.

-- $3.8 million in tax incentives for TPUSA of Louisville for a $13.3 million investment in a new facility for its customer services for banking, insurance, investments and retirement financial planning. The investment would create 750 jobs earning an average of $15 an hour including benefits.

-- $2.5 million for TeeSpring Inc. of Hebron for a $21.9 million project to increase in-house production of its custom T-shirts. The expansion would add 299 jobs with an average hourly salary of $16.75 including benefits.

-- $2.3 million for Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories in Louisville for a $12.4 million expansion of its genomic services business. The company plans to create 130 jobs with an average hourly wage of $27 including benefits.

-- $2 million for ZirMed of Louisville for a $5.1 million expansion of its healthcare technology and information solutions business. The expansion is expected to create 85 jobs with an average hourly wage of $49 including benefits.

-- $2 million in tax incentives for Continental Mixer Solutions of Cynthiana for a $2.1 million project that would combined the concrete mixing manufacturer with EZ Pack Refuse Hauling Solutions, which makes garbage truck bodies. The merger would create 80 jobs with an hourly wage of $17 including benefits.

-- $1.6 million in tax incentives for Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Co. of Somerset for a $2.5 million expansion of its factory to produce part of the product lines now produced in China. The project would add 79 jobs with an average hourly wage of $17 including benefits.

-- $1.5 million and $250,000 in tax incentives for Fuel Total Systems of Lebanon for a $48.1 million expansion of its plastic tank and steel fuel filler pipe business manufacturing for the auto industry. The expansion would create 63 jobs earning an average of $21 an hour including benefits.

-- $1.2 million in tax incentives for Ellison Surface Technologies to expand its Hebron manufacturing with additional lines for the production of thermal coating parts for the aircraft industry. The project would create 150 jobs making $22 an hour including benefits.

-- $500,000 in tax incentives for Prime Tech Manufacturing of Mayfield for a $710,000 project making an automated pepper de-stemmer for the pepper industry. The project would create 38 jobs with a salary of $23 including benefits.

-- $425,000 in tax incentives for Kentucky Chrome Works in Horse Cave for a $707,200 expansion of its chrome services for the automotive aluminum alloy wheel industry. The expansion would create 63 jobs with a salary of $15 an hour including benefits.

-- $400,000 in tax incentives for Divisions in Newport on a $1.3 million investment to expand its landscaping/lot sweeping/electrical and plumbing service business. The expansion would create 25 jobs with an average hourly wage of $35 an hour including benefits.

-- $350,000 in tax incentives for Transport Logistics International of Ballard County for a $2.2 million investment that includes a new service line for washing and recertifying radioactive material cylinders. The expansion would create 20 jobs making $24 an hours including benefits.

-- $300,000 in tax incentives for Campbell Hausfeld/Scott Fetzer Co. for a $680,000 investment to expand its production of air compressors. The expansion would create 30 jobs with an average hourly wage of $18.50 including benefits.

-- $286,000 in tax incentives for Paducah & Louisville Railway Inc. for a $4.2 million investment in its administrative building. The investment would add 10 jobs earning $25 an hour including benefits.

-- $257.956 in tax incentives to Somerset Center Hotel LAP for building a $11.5 million lodging facility adjacent to the Center for Rural Development.

-- $200,000 for V-Soft Consulting Group of Louisville for a $206,250 expansion of its sales force and adding a centralized location for additional technical personnel. The project would create 25 jobs earning $47 an hour including benefits.

-- $200,000 in tax incentives for Yamamoto FC engineering of Louisville for a $4.1 million investment to expand production lines for its automotive brake systems, gears, clutches, flanges, windows and seat components. The expansion would create 15 jobs with an average hourly wage of $21 including benefits.

-- $200,000 in tax incentives for Budge Industries of Henderson, for a $650,000 expansion of its business, which produces protective coverings for vehicles and patio furniture. The expansion would create 37 jobs earning $15 an hour including benefits.

-- $125,000 and $75,000 in tax incentives for A.O. Smith Corp. of Florence for a $3.3 million expansion of its water heating equipment business. The expansion is expected to add 12 jobs making up to $25 an hour including benefits.

-- $100,000 in tax incentives for Seven Peaks Minerals of Pike County, a newly formed company that makes a copper sulfate additive for livestock feed. The company proposes a $15.7 million investment.

-- $40,000 in tax incentives to Strong Tower Construction of Louisville for a $1.75 million expansion of its exterior building renovation and security projects.

Cheryl Truman: (859)231-3202. Twitter: @CherylTruman.

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