Two Kentucky entrepreneurs are set to launch a new glass tempering business.
Gov. Steve Beshear and Mayor Greg Fischer announced 310 Tempering is planning to open a facility in Jeffersontown.
Initially, 310 Tempering is a startup company creating 30 jobs. Within the next five to 10 years, the company plans to hire an additional 120 employees. The company will invest nearly $6 million in the project.
“In celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Commonwealth, we congratulate 310 Tempering,” said Gov. Beshear. “Being an entrepreneur means pursuing your dream to make a difference. That is why we have worked so hard to grow the entrepreneurial environment here in Kentucky. This announcement is another example of how that work is helping real companies succeed.”
Kentucky’s has numerous programs that support the entrepreneurial culture. Gov. Beshear created the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Cabinet for Economic Development to oversee many of the state’s business development programs such as the Kentucky Innovation Network, Kentucky Small Business Credit Initiative, Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit and Kentucky Angel Investors Network.
Kentucky ranks fourth in the country for its ability to create businesses, according to the State Entrepreneurship Index and Thumbtack.com gave the Commonwealth an “A” rating for small business friendliness.
“It’s always exciting when a local startup company chooses to expand its business where it first began,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We are proud that 310 Tempering is not only creating new jobs and investing in Jeffersontown but also increasing Louisville’s status as a leading city for manufacturing.”
310 Tempering will purchase an existing facility in the Bluegrass Industrial Park in Jeffersontown to house its operations. The investment also will include high-end tempering equipment that will allow the company to design and fabricate custom glass projects to a variety of business sectors, including shower doors, glass railings, interior office partitions and storefront entrances.
In mid-April, Greg Abrams and Chris Murphy, veterans of the shower door and glass manufacturing industry, decided to start 310 Tempering to meet market demand for high-quality tempered glass.
“We are very appreciative and excited to be starting 310 in our home city of Louisville,” said Abrams, CEO and president of 310 Tempering. “Chris and I have formed a lot of great relationships over the years and are anxious to get back to work in this prospering community. With demand for custom fabricated tempered glass as high as ever, we feel we can build something that will provide numerous opportunities for those willing to take it."
According to Abrams, 310 Tempering will be one of only three tempering companies in a 50-mile radius and will be specializing in custom orders with precise fabrication needs. Because several steps in the tempering process require highly-skilled employees, Abrams and Murphy are designing a team leader program to train employees who have little or no glass experience, but who have a good work ethic and are eager to learn.
The company will begin hiring employees in September and plans to begin production later this fall.
“The new 310 Tempering facility investment is big news for the Jeffersontown community,” said Sen. Paul Hornback, of Shelbyville. “It is beyond encouraging to see this startup company creating new opportunities for our citizens, so we thank all those who were involved in bringing this investment to the area.”
“It is always great when a company decides to locate or expand in our region, especially when that business is a startup,” said Rep. Jerry T. Miller, of Louisville. “I want to welcome 310 Tempering to the growing number of industries who call the Louisville Metro area home and look forward to its future growth and the expanding opportunities it will offer to our workforce.”
“Greg Abrams and Chris Murphy’s startup of 310 Tempering is another example of the strong entrepreneurial spirit Jeffersontown’s Bluegrass Commerce Park is known for,” said Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf. “We’re thrilled they were able to find the right building to accommodate their growth plans and that the State and Metro were able to support considerable tax credit funding towards the project in addition to our local Jeffersontown Occupation Business Savings Program benefits.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $1.5 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.
In addition, 310 Tempering is eligible to receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies are eligible to receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. Last year, the Kentucky Skills Network trained more than 84,000 employees from more than 4,100 Kentucky companies.
For more information on 310 Tempering, visit 310tempering.com.
A detailed community profile for Louisville (Jefferson County) can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency responsible for encouraging new jobs and investment in the state. New capital investment announced in Kentucky in 2014 totaled a state record $3.7 billion, spurring more than 15,000 projected new jobs. Information on available industrial properties, workforce development assistance, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other economic development resources is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.