Area Development
J. Knipper and Company, Inc., the largest U.S. provider of sampling distribution, will expand its distribution center in Charlestown, Indiana. The company plans to invest $17.4 million and increase its workforce by 38 employees by the end of 2024.

Located at 1250 Patrol Road the facility is situated in the River Ridge Commerce Center, a world-class 6,000-acre business and manufacturing park under development along the Ohio River, across from Louisville, Kentucky. The expansion of this facility will consist of an additional 150,000-square-foot of space, including a refrigerator which can hold 1,500 pallets and a drive-in freezer.

Knipper’s CEO Mike Laferrera stated, “Our mission is to work with our clients to create solutions that are strategically designed, faithfully executed, and driven by market insight and data to ensure maximum return on our clients’ investments, and ultimately to improve people’s lives. The expansion of our Charlestown facility will help us work toward that, and we appreciate the State of Indiana, the City of Charlestown, River Ridge Commerce Center and 1si for helping us expand to meet new demands.”

As an incentive the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Knipper up to $400,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired.

“Indiana has a legacy of life sciences excellence with companies like Knipper continuing to grow in our state,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “Approximately 2,100 life sciences companies in Indiana employ 56,000 Hoosiers, and as a state, we’ll keep providing a top-ranked business environment so companies like Knipper have the confidence to invest in their Indiana operations and add high-quality career opportunities.”

Recently, the River Ridge Commerce Center reported increased employment, expanded development and generated an increase of $2.5 billion in economic output in 2019 alone, the largest output from the business park since it opened.

“We are ecstatic that Knipper has decided to expand and reinvest in its operations at the River Ridge Commerce Center. When the company opened at River Ridge, we knew it was the kind of innovative, growth-oriented employer that could thrive in a new home at River Ridge,” said Jerry Acy, executive director of the River Ridge Commerce Center. “The River Ridge Development Authority will continue to invest in infrastructure and amenities, so River Ridge remains an appealing location for Knipper and other firms serving the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.”

J. Knipper and Company is a fully integrated direct marketing and drug sampling firm, providing complete supply chain services to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.

“Five years ago, we welcomed Knipper into the Southern Indiana business community, and this will be the company’s second expansion since the initial build in 2016. While that kind of success is due to the hard work of Knipper’s employees and forward-thinking management, we believe choosing to locate and grow within the River Ridge Commerce Center, and the State of Indiana itself, contributed to the active growth the company has experienced. As always, 1si is happy to have played a small role in this notable achievement and looks forward to working with Knipper in the future,” said 1si President and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser.