Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leaders from Summit Packaging Solutions LLC for the opening of the manufacturing packaging company’s $18.3 million operation in unincorporated Boone County, a project creating 185 contracted positions and 69 direct full-time jobs.
“I am so happy to join leaders from Summit Packaging today to cut the ribbon on the company’s new operation in Northern Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “This project is creating a variety of quality jobs and capitalizes on the commonwealth’s strong infrastructure and logistical capabilities. I am excited to welcome the company to Kentucky and see it grow for decades to come.”
Adam C. Walker, Summit CEO
Summit’s services include customization, assembly of full pallet displays, PDQs, kits, permanent and temporary displays, multipacks, shrink-wrapping and banding, labeling, print-registered bundle wrapping and distribution, and transportation.
The newly opened 276,000-square-foot Operations Center of Excellence helps accommodate Summit’s growth in the Midwest market with support of new and existing customers in the region. Summit is creating 185 contracted production line jobs at the location, as well as nearly 70 direct full-time positions, which include assembly and production, maintenance, management and supervisor roles. Company leadership noted the region’s extensive transportation network, availability of a skilled workforce and strong community partnerships as decisive factors in locating the project in Boone County.
“We are thankful for the warm welcome to Boone County,” said Summit CEO Adam C. Walker. “We are pleased to be part of Kentucky’s expansive manufacturing presence. The Summit Operations Center of Excellence complements our existing manufacturing footprint and is a benchmark for advancing our core principles of eliminating waste, improving product quality, driving operational efficiency and reducing cost and time. Our goal is to empower an inclusive and engaged community culture, and proudly bring manufacturing jobs to the region through our partnership with Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and other city, county and community entities.”
Summit was founded in 1984 and acquired by a holding company established by Walker in 2014. Company leaders have since made multiple acquisitions, now operating assembly operations in Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with corporate offices in Georgia and Ohio.
Summit’s newly opened location adds to Kentucky’s extensive manufacturing presence, which includes nearly 5,000 facilities that employ approximately 250,000 people across the state.
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore thanked Summit’s leaders for locating in Northern Kentucky.
“Summit is an award-winning manufacturing company serving top consumer products goods (CPG) brands. We’re glad to have their newest Operations Center of Excellence in Boone County,” said Judge Moore. “We welcome them and the hundreds of new jobs they are creating in Northern Kentucky.”
Northern Kentucky Tri-ED CEO Lee Crume applauded Summit’s decision to locate in the region.
“Summit is an ideal company that aligns with our manufacturing and supply chain management sectors in Northern Kentucky,” said Crume. “With companies looking for redundancy and optimizing their supply chains, the Cincinnati region is an ideal location for Summit and its customers.”
Summt Packaging Solutions (File photo)
Summit’s investment and planned job creation furthers recent economic momentum in the Commonwealth, as the state builds back stronger from the effects of the pandemic.
In 2021, the Commonwealth shattered every economic development record in the books. Private-sector new-location and expansion announcements included a record $11.2 billion in total planned investment and commitments to create a record 18,000-plus full-time jobs across the coming years. Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage for projects statewide in 2021 was $24 before benefits, a 9.4% increase over the previous year.
Kentucky has posted record low unemployment rates for four consecutive months, falling from 3.9% in April to 3.8% in May and 3.7% for June and July.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in September 2021 preliminarily approved an incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.
The performance-based agreement can provide tax incentives based on the company’s investment and annual job and wage targets.
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. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, Summit can 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.
