Governor Steve Beshear joined community and company officials in Leitchfield Wednesday morning to announce New York Blower Company will locate a new manufacturing facility in Grayson County, creating 125 new, full-time jobs.

The company plans to purchase an existing facility and will invest $4.8 million as part of the project. “This is a wonderful announcement and a promising time for Leitchfield, Grayson County and Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “We’re excited New York Blower Company chose to begin operations here and we’re glad the Commonwealth could play a role in making this project possible.”

New York Blower Company makes engineered fans and blowers for the industrial marketplace. “The New York Blower Company is very pleased to locate in Leitchfield,” said New York Blower Company Executive Vice President of Operations Bob Korfmann. “As a part of our process, we evaluated sites nationwide and found the Leitchfield/Grayson County community to be a top location. The efforts of Mayor Thomason, Industrial Development Corporation, other local officials, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the TVA in collaboration with the Warren RECC were exemplary and tireless, playing a major role in our final decision to come to Leitchfield. We want to thank all of the involved parties for their work in making us feel welcome in their state, county, and community. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial stay in Leitchfield.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in Leitchfield, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved New York Blower for tax incentives up to $4.8 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

“Today’s announcement serves as another economic shot in the arm for Grayson County and the surrounding region,” said Rep. C.B. Embry Jr., of Morgantown. “It is my sincere hope that the 125 projected jobs this company will provide serves as another example of the outstanding business climate that Grayson County offers to industries.”

“Leitchfield was competing against other cities throughout the country and region, and after meeting with company officials I felt Leitchfield would make a great home for New York Blower,” said Leitchfield Mayor William H. Thomason. “Our community seemed to have a lot in common with the company's culture. Grayson County is well-situated for transportation and close to many large cities, and we have a lower cost of doing business than larger cities. I am very proud of our community's capability to compete for and win such a great company."