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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Bigelow Tea Plans Jeffersontown, Kentucky, Operation Complex

09/02/2021
Bigelow Tea Co. plans to relocate and expand in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. The $53 million project is expected to create 31 jobs.

Currently located in an 85,000-square-foot facility on Constant Comment Place, Bigelow will construct a new, 334,000-square-foot operation across two phases on nearby Blankenbaker Road. The investment will let the company boost production to meet growing customer demand. Company officials anticipate construction will begin in spring 2022 with the facility operational by summer 2024.

“The Bigelow family and all our team members are proud of our plan to build a state-of-the-art facility in Louisville,” said Bigelow Tea President and CEO Cindi Bigelow. “Over the next few years, we will be committing over $50 million to create an extraordinary plant that will take us forward for decades to come. We would like to thank the Commonwealth of Kentucky, City of Louisville, and the City of Jeffersontown for providing the support necessary to help us finalize the purchase of a 20-acre property near our existing facility that has operated in Jeffersontown for almost 30 years. This is a very exciting time for our family business.

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 $500,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $53 million and annual targets of creation and maintenance of 31 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years.

Additionally, KEDFA approved Bigelow for up to $900,000 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. Bigelow can also receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives.

“Congratulations to Bigelow Tea on the company’s expansion in Jefferson County,” Governor Andy Beshear said. “This project is the latest example of Kentucky’s food, beverage and agritech sector growing rapidly and helping to create quality job opportunities for Kentucky residents.”

Headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, Bigelow Tea is a 75-year old, third-generation family-owned business that produces 2 billion tea bags annually. The company is committed to environmentally friendly practices, with 100% renewable sources powering its operations, and use of recyclable tea boxes and shipping containers. Bigelow is a Certified B Corp., one of a select group of companies that has designated corporate social responsibility as a core business goal in the pursuit of a positive social and environmental impact.

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