Elizabethtown Welcomes Akebono Corporation
North American Headquarters
Akebono Corporation has called Kentucky home since 1987, when
it located its first manufacturing facility, Ambrake, in Elizabethtown. The
Japanese automotive supplier has since grown to be the largest manufacturing
operation in Hardin County with approximately 1,200 employees. Additionally,
the company has expanded its presence across Kentucky by locating all of its
manufacturing facilities here in the bluegrass with a total employee base of a
little more than 2,000 Kentuckians.
On March 1, Akebono Corporation made its mark on Kentucky once
more, choosing to relocate its North American headquarters to Elizabethtown,
creating 75 new jobs in the commonwealth. Secretary Gene Strong, along with
Carl Lay, Vice President Corporate Relations for Akebono Corporation North
America, and officials from the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial
Foundation made the announcement at a press conference attended by more than
100 citizens, elected officials and current employees of Akebono Corporation.
"Akebono has been a leader in the Kentucky business community
and is a shining example of the kind of company we seek to attract and expand
in the commonwealth," said Secretary Strong.
The location of Akebono's North American headquarters is more
than just new job and investment numbers. It creates a tremendous impact on the
community, as well as the state simply by having a world-class international
company continually embrace the people of Kentucky and flourish in the business
climate they've helped to create.
"Ambrake has been a premier corporate citizen during their
twenty years in our community and we now welcome their corporate parent who, we
are certain will continue to grow our mutually beneficial relationship," said
R. Gregory Jenkins, Chairman of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial
Foundation.
The Akebono Corporation has been vital over the years in
helping to cultivate a business climate conducive to attracting and expanding
international businesses in the state. This is especially true in helping to
build the Japanese-owned investment that has thrived in Kentucky.
The Cabinet for Economic Development has operated a
representative office in Tokyo, Japan for more than 20 years. Under the
leadership of Jiro Hashimoto, who has served as Director of the Commonwealth's
Japan Office for nearly all of its existence, the state has experienced
tremendous success in building lasting relationships among business leaders and
bringing Japanese investment to the state.
Currently, Kentucky is home to 141 Japanese companies employing
more than 36,700 Kentuckians. This number accounts for nearly 41 percent of the
overall international companies operating in Kentucky and more than 51 percent
of the employees those companies represent.
The first quarter of 2006 is proving to be the start of another
good year for Japanese investment. In addition to Akebono's location,
Governor Ernie Fletcher announced in January that Sekisui S-LEC America,
manufacturer of interlayer film and sound acoustic film for automotive glass
use, would locate a manufacturing facility in Winchester. The project will
create 80 new jobs and bring an investment of more than $43 million to
Kentucky.
"The investments by both Akebono and Sekisui are a welcome
addition to Kentucky's growing international company base," said Strong. "The
hard work of the Cabinet's Japan Office and the continued efforts here at home
to develop a global business climate are evident. We strive everyday to
diversify Kentucky's economy, making our state competitive in the global
marketplace."
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