FRANKFORT, Ky. - Governor Ernie Fletcher and Cabinet for Economic Development officials today joined business and government leaders of Rockcastle County and representatives of Plasticware LLC to celebrate the grand opening of the company's plant at Mount Vernon. The new operation, which revives a plant closed less than six months ago, represents a $16 million investment in the commonwealth.

Plasticware, one of the largest producers of plastic deli containers, acquired the former Alcoa Reynolds Food Packaging™ facility in Mount Vernon after Alcoa announced on March 1 that it would close the plant. Plasticware has retained 79 former Alcoa employees and anticipates rehiring as many as 112. It also expects to eventually add as many as 28 new employees.

"Rockcastle County is to be commended for its persistence in securing and increasing employment opportunities at the Mount Vernon food packaging plant," said Governor Fletcher. "The state is pleased to partner with this community and Plasticware to make this new operation a success."

"We saw a great opportunity in the marketplace and the community to provide the best containers and lids in the industry," said Jacob Deutsch, executive vice president of Plasticware. "We know the key to success is the Mount Vernon plant's 25 years of experience, its management team and its devoted employees."

Plasticware produces a full range of deli containers, many with custom shapes, sizes, styles and printing. Plans for the facility at Mount Vernon include the purchase of additional equipment in order to market its products throughout the continental United States under the names Del-Ware and MVP Food Packaging.

"We are pleased to have Plasticware as a new corporate partner in our community, and we appreciate the assistance received from all regional and state agencies to ensure this project was successful," said Buzz Carloftis, Rockcastle County Judge Executive. "Creating jobs in our community is important, but making sure we keep the jobs we have is equally important."

"This is truly a day for celebration in a community which is working to be more progressive in retaining and creating jobs for our residents," said Corey Craig, president of the Rockcastle County Industrial Development Authority. "We felt as though it was critical that leadership from our community, the state and other regional organizations come together to ensure we could keep this manufacturing facility from becoming another empty building."

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved Plasticware, LLC for tax benefits up to $3.8 million under the Kentucky Industrial Development Act (KIDA), an incentive program designed to attract and expand manufacturing employment in the state.

A community profile for Rockcastle County can be found at the following link: http://www.thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=005.