Akebono Brake Corporation Celebrates Grand Opening of North American HQs in Elizabethtown
Governor Ernie Fletcher and representatives from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development joined company and local officials in Hardin County in late April for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Akebono Brake Corporation’s North American Headquarters in Elizabethtown. The relocation of the headquarters operation was the first announcement of its kind for the area and is expected to help spark a new kind of development for Elizabethtown and Hardin County.
“Akebono has long had a presence in Kentucky and appreciates the advantages that Kentucky offers,” said Carl Lay, General Manager of Administration for North American Operations for Akebono. “This move aligns our corporate headquarters with our manufacturing operations where the large majority of our associates are employed.”
The company has been a long-standing economic partner with Kentucky since announcing its first manufacturing facility for North America would be located in Elizabethtown in 1986. Since that time, Akebono has located all of its North American manufacturing operations in Kentucky, employing nearly 1,800 Kentuckians. The new 10,000 square-foot headquarters facility will create 75 additional professional positions, which are expected to be filled locally.
“Akebono is an exemplary international company that has embraced Kentucky and its people,” said Governor Fletcher. “Kentucky is thrilled that they have chosen to locate their headquarters in Elizabethtown and add another facility to their Kentucky family.”
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) approved Akebono Brake Corporation for tax incentives up to $1.35 million under the Kentucky Jobs Development Act (KJDA), an incentive program designed to increase service- and technology-related employment in the state.
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