Howa USA Inc. announced that it will acquire approximately 24 acres in the Kentucky Transpark located in Bowling Green, Ky. The company plans to construct a new 82,000-square-foot facility to manufacture dash insulators, headliners and other interior products for the automotive industry. The company will also purchase new equipment and upgrade building fixtures for a total projected investment of more than $10 million. They expect to create 61 new full-time jobs as a result of their investment.
"I congratulate Bowling Green on the attraction of Howa USA," said Governor Ernie Fletcher. "With the talented and skilled workforce in this region, Howa will no doubt be able to surpass its already high expectations for this new facility."
Howa Textile Industry Company Ltd., the sole parent company of Howa USA, was established in 1955 and has been engaged in manufacturing of interior auto parts such as headliners, door panels, dash insulators and sunshade trims since its establishment. They are a market leader among Japanese suppliers with a customer base including Toyota, Nissan and Honda. Howa Textile Industry Company established Howa USA in 2004 and since then has experienced continued growth.
"Our business in the USA has been growing rapidly," said Akiyori Shibuya, president of Howa Textile. "In order to meet the needs of our current and future customers, we are very pleased to announce our decision to establish a production facility in Bowling Green's Kentucky Transpark. We are most grateful to the State of Kentucky, the City of Bowling Green, Warren County and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce for their wonderful support."
"South Central Kentucky is so fortunate to have attracted a company such as Howa USA," stated Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon.
"It is gratifying that the Kentucky Transpark has, once again, demonstrated itself as a value-added new business location for world-class employers." Mayor Elaine Walker added, "We are pleased to welcome Howa USA to Bowling Green. They join a growing list of internationally recognized companies that have discovered that South Central Kentucky is not only a great place to grow their business but also a great place to grow a family."
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved Howa USA for tax benefits up to $1 million under the Kentucky Industrial Development Act (KIDA), an incentive program designed to attract and expand manufacturing operations in the state. Howa USA has applied for benefits under the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). The program allows approved companies making an investment of $500,000 or more in Kentucky to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on the cost of construction materials, building fixtures and equipment used for research and development.