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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

R.A. Jones Upgrades Kenton County, Kentucky, Manufacturing Center

08/06/2021
R.A. Jones & Co., a designer and manufacturer of packaging equipment, will upgrade its facility in Kenton County, Kentucky. The more than $2 million investment is expected to create 20 high-wage jobs.

Demand for the company’s packaging equipment, including aerosol, cartoning, chub packaging, multipacking and pouching machines, has grown consistently in recent years, and has seen a surge since the start of the pandemic in 2020, state officials noted. In recent months, consumer goods manufacturers have increasingly relied on equipment designed by R.A. Jones, as demand for products such as sanitary wipes, disinfectant sprays, tissues, beverages, packaged meats and other food items has increased.

“The state tax incentives will allow R.A Jones to invest in various corporate initiatives and projects designed to strengthen our current workforce, expand our manufacturing and service capabilities, and increase research and development resources to help us attain our full market growth potential over the next 10 years.” said Jonathon Titterton, CEO of R.A. Jones. “The R.A Jones leadership team is honored to have been approved for these tax incentives and excited to continue its 115-plus-year tradition of contributing to Northern Kentucky’s growing economy and providing quality job opportunities for residents of the surrounding communities.”

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $200,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $2 million and annual targets of creation and maintenance of 20 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years and paying an average hourly wage of $43 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. In addition, R.A. Jones can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.

“Northern Kentucky’s proximity to the headquarters and manufacturing operations of CPG giants Procter & Gamble Co. and The Kroger Co. make our region ideal for companies like R.A. Jones that specialize in innovative packaging technology for the beverage, chemical, consumer goods, dairy, food, pharmaceutical and industrial industries,” said Lee Crume, president and CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. “R.A. Jones’ decision to add new, professional career opportunities is testimony to our strong higher education system in the Cincinnati region.”

R.A Jones is one of the world’s leading providers of primary and secondary packaging machinery to the food, pharmaceutical, dairy and consumer goods industries. The company holds more than 70 worldwide patents across seven machinery brands, covering a wide range of solutions from improving shelf life of fresh meats to efficient filling of pouches, cups and bottles, as well as aerosol production and creative carton construction.

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