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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

WhiteRock Pigments Eyes Chemical Manufacturing Plant in Hancock, Kentucky

10/30/2017
WhiteRock Pigments Inc. will locate a $179 million chemical manufacturing operation in Hancock County, Kentucky. The project is expected to create 124 full-time jobs.

WRP will locate in the former Alcoa building on River Road in Hancock County, just northwest of Hawsville. The 305,000-square-foot facility on 65 acres has remained vacant the past nine years. Work to rehab and up fit the building and property could begin in January with the plant’s opening planned for April 2020.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Kentucky economic development folks and the administration in Hancock County,” said Robert Meyer, CEO of WhiteRock. “Their responsiveness, hospitality and can do business attitude is a major contributor to our interest in the Hawesville site. WhiteRock will build a vibrant new enterprise and looks to be a significant contributor to the community”.

Founded in 2007, WRP will be using a propriety eco-friendly process to manufacture chemicals from a variety of feedstocks.

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in October preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $3 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

Additionally, KEDFA approved WRP for up to $300,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing. WRP also can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.

“WhiteRock Pigments is breathing new life into the community of Hawesville,” said Governor Matt Bevin. “Companies like WRP are helping Kentucky’s manufacturing industry diversify and strengthen in communities across the state, and we are excited to welcome them to the Commonwealth. The addition of 124 jobs and new economic activity will be a significant boost for the economy of Hancock County, generating momentum for years to come.”

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