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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

China-Based Midea America Corp. To Establish Research and Development Facility in Louisville, Kentucky

03/26/2015
China-based Midea America Corporation plans to locate its first U.S. research and development operation in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The third-largest appliance maker in the world plans to invest nearly $2.7 million into the project, creating up to 25 new jobs in the Louisville area.

Midea America is establishing a United States based research and development center in order to better focus on North American products and customers. According to state officials, the firm is still determining the exact location of its Louisville facility.

“Midea America is excited to work with the state of Kentucky and local Jefferson County government to establish its North American R&D center,” said Mark Wilson, Midea’s director of U.S. Research and Development. “The area has a strong technology background, and Midea looks forward to better serving its customers with a focused United States product development effort.”

Midea America Corporation is a division of Chinese-based Midea Group. The company has been serving North America with air conditioning, refrigeration, laundry, dishwasher, floor care and numerous small appliances for more than 10 years.

To encourage the investment and job creation in Louisville, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $800,000 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.

“This is a very exciting project on many levels,” said Governor Steve Beshear. “Not only is Midea America creating new jobs, but it also is increasing Kentucky’s international footprint and elevating our status as one of the top research and development locations in the country. I look forward to seeing the impact of Midea America’s R&D center across the nation and around the world.”

“Having a global industry leader like Midea America choose to locate its first United States based research and development center in Louisville speaks to the strengths we have has a worldwide leader in innovation, research and advanced manufacturing,” said Mayor Fischer. “Midea’s investment in our city demonstrates the company’s confidence in our local and regional economy and our ability to compete successfully on a global level.”

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