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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Bluegrass Bottling Plans Lancaster, Kentucky, Bottling Facility

08/26/2022
Bluegrass Bottling will establish a new 50,000-square-foot bottling facility in Lancaster, Kentucky. The $6.25 million project is expected to create 27 jobs.

The company will construct a plant on a 98-acre site at 51 Poor Ridge Pike, where it will operate under the name Poor Ridge Distillery. The investment will also double storage space to 49,000-square-feet. Bluegrass will retain its employment base from its current bottling facility in neighboring Lincoln County, where the company will maintain a distribution presence. Construction is planned for next month with completion for March 2023.

“We could not be more excited and proud to be a part of Kentucky’s bourbon industry,” said Lisa Strevels, owner of Bluegrass Bottling. “This investment will be vital to our company’s continued growth in the commonwealth, and we look forward to expanding our presence in Lancaster.”

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in July preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $405,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $6.25 million and annual targets of creation and maintenance of 27 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years, and pay an average hourly wage of $23 including benefits across those jobs.

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.

“I could not be happier to see so many existing bourbon-related businesses growing in the commonwealth,” Governor Andy Beshear added. “This is truly a great project for Garrard County and the surrounding region. I look forward to this new bottling plant opening next spring and hope to see Bluegrass Bottling continue to grow into new markets in the years ahead.”

In addition, the company 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. “We know that Bluegrass Bottling will be a great development for our community, and we look forward to them growing and prospering here in our county,” said David Land, chair of the Lancaster/Garrard County Industrial Development Authority.

Established in 2020, Bluegrass Bottling’s services include blending, proofing, brand development, labeling, private labeling, specialized packaging and designing of spirits brands. The company provides resources that allow distilleries, small-craft distillers and bourbon enthusiasts to market their products and reach their full potential.

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