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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Riverine Fisheries International Invests $18.7 Million To Establish Fish Processing Plant In Fulton County, Kentucky

11/12/2014
Riverine Fisheries International will invest $18.7 million to build a fish processing operation in Fulton County, Kentucky. The company will catch, clean, process, package and transport various species of Asian carp found in Kentucky’s waters, creating an estimated 110 new jobs.

Riverine purchased a 75,000-square-foot industrial building and also is mooring a self-contained processing vessel in the Mississippi River harbor in Hickman, Kentucky.

Founded in 2013, Riverine Fisheries was created to capitalize on the prolific growth of the invasive Asian carp throughout the U.S. and the potential invasion into the Great Lakes. The firm will focus on Asian carp that are invading Kentucky Lake, the Mississippi River, Cumberland River, Cumberland River and Tennessee River. In addition to targeting Asian carp the company will also process other seafood products brought in from other areas of the U.S.

The company plans to catch Asian carp using equipment and technologies that have proven successful in the challenging Pacific Northwest and Alaska fishing industries. Once the carp are harvested, the company will use the ship to process the fish into commercially viable products, such as surimi or imitation seafood, fishmeal, fish oil, mince and fillets. These products will be shipped to every major market in the world.

“Riverine Fisheries is extremely excited to be locating in Hickman,” said Joe Gillas, President of Riverine Fisheries. “We are very thankful to Eddie Crittendon and the Fulton County- Hickman County Economic Development Partnership for their help over the last several months and their commitment to finding a solution to any obstacle that arose, while also working with our company to make this project happen. We have been very pleased with the level of support that we have received from federal, state and local officials, and we look forward to being a part of the community.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in Hickman, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives of up to $3.8 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

“Not only will Riverine Fisheries create new jobs and boost Kentucky exports, but it also will help to control Asian carp,” said Governor Steve Beshear. “I want to thank the company for locating in the Commonwealth, and I look forward to seeing its operation in action and its products being shipped around the world.”

“We are excited that Riverine Fisheries will soon open in Kentucky,” said Ron Brooks, Fisheries Director with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. “Almost three years ago, Joe reached out to Kentucky for assistance with his plans of harvesting Asian carp. We look forward to Riverine Fisheries helping us with our efforts to save our native fish.”

Senator Stan Humphries, of Cadiz said. “Riverine Fisheries International is proposing to create jobs and boost the economy while assisting the state by helping rid the waterways of Asian carp, an invasive species that threatens native fish and other species.”

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