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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Columbia Brands USA Expands Henderson County, Kentucky, Distribution Complex

05/03/2022
Columbia Brands USA, a manufacturer of apparel and footwear products, will expand its operations in Henderson County, Kentucky. The $3.7 million project is expected to create 175 jobs.

The company will invest in facility upgrades and new equipment to accommodate the relocation of a performance fishing gear line from the company’s distribution facility in Oregon. Upgrades at the 520,000-square-foot distribution center in Robards are expected to begin this May and be completed by May 2023.

“Our distribution center in Henderson County continues to advance new processing capabilities,” added Alonzo Plater, the company’s vice president of global distribution. “Investment in this area will help us achieve our goal to get our products into the hands of our customers and consumers in the timeliest manner possible."

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) today preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $2.2 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $3.7 million and annual targets of creation and maintenance of 175 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years.

Additionally, KEDFA approved the company for up to $100,000 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. By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, Columbia can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.

“This is an exciting day for both 4 Star Industrial Park and Columbia Sportswear,” said Doug Bell, West Kentucky Regional Industrial Development board chair. “Columbia has been a tremendous corporate citizen and to see this capital expansion job creation exemplifies what we have known for many years.”

Columbia Brands USA, a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Co., is based in Oregon, where it was established in 2003. The company sells and distributes branded apparel and footwear products throughout the U.S., including Columbia, Sorel, Montrail, prAna and Mountain Hardwear. Columbia operates one of its two U.S. distribution centers in Robards, where it currently employs nearly 200 people.

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