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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Brown-Forman Corporation Invests $12 Million To Locate Production Center In Spencer, Indiana

06/12/2015
Brown-Forman Corporation, one of the largest American-owned companies in the wine and spirits business, plans to establish its first Hoosier State operations center in Spencer, Indiana. The company plans to create up to 50 new jobs by 2017.

With plans to begin construction next month, Brown-Forman Corporation will invest $12 million to acquire and renovate an existing 15,000-square-foot mill at 725 S. State Road 231 in order to expand the company’s distillery operations. The new facility will be used to convert logs into bourbon barrel stave and heading pieces, which will be assembled into barrels at another location.

“As the Brown-Forman whiskey portfolio expands, we continue to look for new outlets for increased capacity,” said Greg Roshkowski, Vice President/General Manager of Brown-Forman Cooperages. “We’re excited to develop operations in a new region as this new mill in Indiana will provide the materials we need to continue to grow the Brown-Forman brand.”

As an incentive, Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Brown-Forman Corporation up to $350,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The town of Spencer will consider additional incentives at the request of the Owen County Economic Development Corporation.

“Indiana’s recognition as the best state in the Midwest for business is more significant than a title,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “Brown-Forman’s expansion across state lines is evidence that our efforts to lower taxes and reduce regulations are producing tangible results, attracting new investments and new companies to the Hoosier State.”

Founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, Brown-Forman Corporation is a publicly-traded, fifth generation family-controlled business and is among the top 10 largest global spirits companies. Brown’s original brand, Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, was America’s first bottled bourbon. Today, the company’s portfolio comprises more than 25 whiskey, tequila, vodka, liqueur and wine brands, including Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Herradura, Finlandia and Southern Comfort.

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