Gov. Matt Bevin congratulated Castlen, a fabricator and designer of material-handling equipment and infrastructure, on opening its $4.4 million industrial site in Owensboro, an expansion that created 30 jobs and will likely spur more in the future.
“Where else but in Kentucky can a husband-and-wife welding operation begin in their garage and quickly grow into an industrial-scale design and fabrication company?” remarked Gov. Bevin. “In eight short years Castlen went from a startup to a 50-employee operation handling multimillion projects for agribusiness and industrial customers. We are thankful for the hard work of forward-looking companies like Castlen that reinforce Kentucky’s reputation as an international hub for manufacturing excellence.”
Among other products and services, Castlen engineers, fabricates and installs grain and fertilizer storage tanks, silos and storage buildings. Its new site, a 92-acre former steel mill on U.S. Highway 60, allows the company to add manufacturing operations for conveyors, hoppers, conditioners, towers and bucket elevators. Having revitalized a rail spur, Castlen employees can more easily receive bulk raw materials – including steel and aluminum – and ship completed tanks, catwalks, elevators and other products.
Rail access will also allow Castlen to offer railcar repair. Castlen also plans to build warehousing space and will likely add additional employees as it further develops the property. The new site’s access to the Ohio River will help the company expand its sales and service territory. The company’s existing headquarters on Iceland Road in Maceo, Ky. will continue as offices and a site for custom fabrication and welding repair.
“We are bringing in new industry and assisting in the growth existing business in the area,” said owner Matt Castlen. “Creating sustainable employment for a wide range of skilled workers is our goal in developing the property. Our plan will help this region expand as the Interstate 65 spur evolves.”
Castlen started the company with his wife, Laura, in 2008 as they took on welding projects in their garage. Now, among other services, Castlen offers on-site assembly and installation of industrial and agricultural infrastructure and equipment. It also provides industrial contracting, general plant maintenance, crane service, steel sales and smoke stack repair and servicing during outages or shut downs.
Sen. Joe Bowen, of Owensboro, praised the company for its business ethics, expansion and commitment to the area.
“I can’t say enough about this impressive company. Its growth in terms of location and scope, its ability to take on increasingly massive projects and its commitment to treating customers and employees right make it a model for our region and our state,” Sen. Bowen said. “My congratulations to Matt Castlen and his company on opening this new facility.”
Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne said he and other city officials hold in high regard Castlen’s investment and job creation in the city.
“In Owensboro we continue to carry forward the message that our city offers the mix of elements needed to attract and grow businesses. Castlen is the latest to prove that mantra correct,” he said. “The company’s new site will bring tremendous new opportunity to diversify and continue expanding its services and products.”
Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly welcomed the expansion.
“What a pleasure it is to see one of our homegrown companies reopening a prime industrial site, bringing Daviess County additional economic vibrancy and jobs,” he said. “Castlen’s growth and expansion onto this site demonstrates confidence in our area’s workforce, logistical advantages and quality of life. I look forward to the company’s continued success.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in 2014 preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $350,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
In addition, Castlen can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can 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 5,600 Kentucky companies.
For more information on Castlen, visit www.castlensteel.com.
A detailed community profile for Daviess County can be viewed at www.bit.ly/DaviessCoKy.
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 or follow on Twitter. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.