Governor Steve Beshear joined local leaders and company officials in Lexington for the grand opening of Birtley, a subsidiary of Shandong Borun Industrial Processing Equipment in China. The company, Kentucky’s first Chinese-owned manufacturing firm, has built a new 67,500-square-foot facility at Blue Grass Business Park in Lexington, and is creating 30 to 50 new, full-time jobs and investing approximately $10 million in the project.
“Last September, we were happy to announce that Birtley would become the first Chinese-owned manufacturer in Kentucky. Today, we can see the direct results of our successful partnership,” Gov. Beshear said. “The 30 new jobs and $10 million in investment are welcome numbers, but this project also paves the way for an even brighter future, because foreign direct investment is so important to our overall economic strength.”
Birtley is a producer of coal equipment processing machinery. Its parent company, Shandong Borun, has three manufacturing facilities in China, with products including machines used in coal preparation, mineral processing, and devices used in the power, steel, cement and port industries. Kentucky’s foreign direct investment continues to grow, boasting 425 foreign-owned companies from 30 nations, employing more than 80,000 people.
“We are very pleased to provide job opportunities for the local community as well as outstanding products made right here in Lexington. We are grateful for the assistance we have received from the local government and businesses,” said Birtley President Ying Juan Rogers.
“The grand opening of this new manufacturing facility is exciting because of the 30 to 50 good jobs it offers as well as the economic development for Lexington,” said Sen. Julian M. Carroll, of Frankfort. “Today’s excitement is enhanced because this also marks the beginning of – what I believe will be – a prosperous association with our new corporate friends in China. I appreciate Gov. Beshear’s economic development efforts to strengthen relationships with Chinese companies, and I welcome Birtley to Lexington.”
“This grand opening is another high-water mark for Kentucky businesses, and I am proud that it is happening here in Lexington,” said Rep. Jesse Crenshaw, of Lexington. “It says a lot about our community’s commitment to excellence and ability to make any company feel right at home. I really appreciate all of the work – by Birtley and by our local and state officials – that went into making today’s ceremony possible.”
“Commerce Lexington Inc. is very excited officially to welcome Birtley to the Bluegrass,” said Bob Quick, CCE, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington. “We are honored that the Birtley team has chosen Lexington to mark this historical milestone as the first Chinese manufacturer to locate in the Commonwealth. Birtley’s new facility not only increases the international presence inside the Blue Grass Business Park, but also adds to our community’s global impact across so much of our economy, such as higher education, equine, health care, tourism and more. We look forward to helping Birtley build on its success.”
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A detailed community profile for Lexington (Fayette County) can be viewed at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=053.