American Howa Kentucky
Breaks Ground on New Facility
In Bowling Green
American Howa Kentucky, Inc., a leading automotive supplier, broke ground in May
for a new manufacturing facility in the Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green.
Upon completion in November 2007, the new 82,000 square-foot facility will manufacture dash insulators, headliners, and other interior products for the automotive industry. The company will also purchase new equipment and upgrade building fixtures for a total projected investment of over $10 million. An estimated 61 new full-time jobs will result from the project.
"The arrival of American Howa Kentucky will further enhance the commonwealth’s reputation as a hub for the automotive industry," said Governor Ernie Fletcher. "And it is further proof of the importance of the Transpark as an economic engine for the South Central Kentucky area. I congratulate the Bowling Green and Warren County communities for their vision, and I welcome Howa to its new Kentucky home.”
"It has been a two-year process to search for our new American Howa Kentucky, Inc. property, but Bowling Green is the ideal location for our customers," said Howa Textiles, Inc., President Akiyori Shibuya. "I expect to expand our plant at the Transpark to be a core plant in the U.S. for Howa."
Howa Textile Industry Co., LTD, the sole parent company of American Howa Kentucky, Inc., has been engaged in the manufacturing of interior auto parts such as headliners, door panels, dash insulators, and sunshade trims since its establishment in 1955. The company is a market leader among Japanese suppliers with a customer base including Toyota, Nissan, and Honda.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved American Howa Kentucky, Inc. for tax benefits up to $1 million under the Kentucky Industrial Development Act (KIDA), an incentive program designed to attract and expand manufacturing operations in the state.
American Howa Kentucky, Inc. was also approved for benefits under the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). The program allows approved companies making an investment of $500,000 or more in Kentucky to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on the cost of construction materials, building fixtures and equipment used for research and development.
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