Corning Inc., a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, plans to invest more than $186 million to expand its Harrodsburg, Ky., operation, creating 80 new full-time jobs. The company currently employs several hundred people at the Harrodsburg facility.

The Harrodsburg plant is increasing its production capacity to accommodate the demand for its thin, durable, highly scratch-resistant cover glass, known as Gorilla® glass, which is used in portable and handheld electronic devices. Additionally, R&D capability will be added in order to explore the parameters and processes in manufacturing microsheet, an extremely thin, flexible glass to be used in next-generation electronic devices.

"We believe Gorilla glass sales will exceed $250 million this year and we are making major investments to expand our production and R&D efforts for this business," said James B. Flaws, Corning's vice chairman and CFO.

Corning's expansion will be aided by up to $4.5 million through the Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) program and up to $1 million through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA).