OFS Brands Holding Inc., a furniture manufacturer for the office healthcare, education and hospitality sectors, will invest $1 million in its existing operation in Grayson County with plans to create 105 full-time jobs.
“OFS Brands has operated with great success in Kentucky for more than 20 years, and the company’s decision to locate its newest production line here speaks volumes about their positive experience in the commonwealth,” Gov. Bevin said. “Once companies decide to locate in our state, they inevitably decide to expand their businesses here. This project will have a powerful economic impact on Leitchfield and the surrounding area, and we are grateful for OFS Brands’ continued confidence in Kentucky.”
OFS’ investment will introduce a new production line at the location, as well as cover the cost of facility improvements and the purchase of new equipment. Since the company’s acquisition of Highmark in 2015, it has seen a boost in demand for ergonomic, mechanical-operated seating – also known as performance seating – throughout the US and globally. The expansion of the Leitchfield facility will nearly double its operational output and allow the company to produce two new products to meet customer demand.
“I am excited to announce that we have embarked on a plan to expand our operational footprint in our plant in Leitchfield, Ky. We are grateful for the support the City of Leitchfield and the State of Kentucky is providing to enable our continued business growth,” said Hank Menke, president and CEO of OFS Brands. “We feel that this location provides our best opportunity to continue to provide the best products to our customers and we look forward to recruiting new associates to our workforce along with the added investments we plan to make in Leitchfield.”
Founded in 1937, OFS is a privately owned company headquartered in Huntingburg, Ind., where it operates 10 manufacturing plants and a central distribution warehouse. Over the years, the company has grown to exceed $400 million in annual revenue with 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and California. It also operates a subsidiary, Bryan Ashley, located in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The company employs approximately 1,850 people across all operations and 33 in Leitchfield, where it has operated since 1998.
Sen. Stephen Meredith, of Leitchfield, expressed gratitude for the project.
“Having plenty of full-time job opportunities is paramount to keeping a high retention rate in Leitchfield,” Sen. Meredith said. “Thank you to OFS Brands Holding Inc. for your dedication to producing quality products and for continuing to invest in our community.”
Rep. Tim Moore, of Elizabethtown, said renewed efforts to put businesses first has proven beneficial at the local level.
“Pro-business policies are producing sound results for Grayson County, and this announcement is just another indicator of a strong economy,” Rep. Moore said. “The creation of over 100 new manufacturing jobs will provide a huge boost to the local economy, and I’m excited to see the increased opportunity this investment will provide to our area.”
Grayson County Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson said the expansion helps to ensure an economic future in the area.
“We are so pleased that OFS Brands has decided to expand here in Grayson County,” Judge-Executive Henderson said. “We look forward to working with them now and in the future to provide great job opportunities for people here in Grayson County. I would also like to thank Gov. Matt Bevin and his administration for actively pursuing and assisting rural communities with economic and industrial growth in the great state of Kentucky.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $1 million 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, OFS 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.
For more information on OFS, visit www.OFS.com.