Of course Brown-Forman is gonna develop and move jobs to other states.
The company behind Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey will create a barrel-making plant in Lawrence County, bringing about 200 jobs to north Alabama, state and company officials announced Thursday.
The new facility, which represents Brown-Forman Corp.’s second move into Alabama in less than 12 months, involves a $55 million to $60 million capital investment for the company, according to Greg Roshkowski, vice president and general manager of Brown-Forman Cooperages.
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State and local governments are providing the company with tax breaks, land and worker training worth about $63 million, according to information from the governor’s office.
Because both Metro Government and Frankfort are utterly up a creek, you can bet B-F isn’t just rumoring a partial move to Southern Indiana.
In fact, we’re all betting you can safely hold your breath on moves. More and more transitions like this are going to take place.
With other companies, too.
7 responses so far ↓
1 J. Bruce Miller // Jun 15, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Jake: You’re absolutely correct. This will continue to happen for several reasons: (i) Kentucky’s antiquated tax structure, (ii) Kentucky’s miserable education system and PRIMARILY because Kentucky is NOT a right-to-work state. We’re losing business, daily, because of this to all sorts of southeastern states (including Tennessee and Alabama) and WHEN THE BRIDGES ARE EVER BUILT Indiana’s River Crest 4,000 acre corporate ‘park’ will fill up with manufacturing jobs. Additional proof of this problem is the disaster that’s un-reported — the Naval Ordinance Plant on Southside Drive, where Mayor Jerry provided a 99 year lease to a post office box in Connecticut and the NOPlant is – virtually – empty.
These problems are reflective of a total lack of leadership that we’ve experienced for decades.
Very unfortunate — and so easily corrected — but it requires BALLS (not b’balls) and FORESIGHT.
2 Richard S. // Jun 15, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Looks like Alabama gave about $60 million in tax incentives to land the deal. I don’t think Kentucky was ever in the running.
3 jake // Jun 15, 2012 at 1:30 pm
You realize that’s my point, right?
4 J. Bruce Miller // Jun 15, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Jake: I, too, realize your point.
My point is that THE REASON Alabama can afford such incentives is the fact that it’s a right-to-work state — as are Tennessee, Georgia S.Carol, N.Carol, Va., Fla, Miss, La., Ark, INDIANA, Texas, Oklah., Kansas, Nebr., S and N Dak, Utah, Ariz and Nev. —-= each of which is attracting business right/and/ left — while Ky. Mich., Ohio, W.Va, Penn, Ill, etc are net losers in this category.
My point — every state that abuts Kentucky (except W.Va., and Ohio) and every single state in the southeast is a right-to-work state. We can’t compete in that environment and we will never have the money to compete, because the right-to-work states are wealthier — because of their labor policies — so they have larger and more inviting incentives to offer.
Time to wake up Kentucky.
5 jake // Jun 15, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Knowing the B-F crew, I’m pretty sure being a right-to-work state had less to do with the deal than Alabama actually working with B-F and trying to lure them there.
Same thing is happening to Mitch Daniels.
Governors and mayors from both states take active roles in recruiting businesses and go in-person to do their bidding. Daniels has visited several Kentucky businesses over the past couple years doing just that.
We could most certainly compete with right-to-work states if there was real effort. If there was more than just false bravado. If there was more of an attitude toward progress and the future than there is toward jealousy and retribution.
6 J. Bruce Miller // Jun 15, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Jake: I agree with you, completely, on your point as it relates to ‘the effort.’ I would add, when your NOT a right-to-work state, you have to WORK WISER, HARDER AND MORE DILIGENTLY with MORE QUALIFIED AND ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESS PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT than what Kentucky’s presently using. To compare this bunch with John Y. Brown’s cabinet is like comparing Secretariat with the Budweiser beer truck horses.
7 jack // Jun 15, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Just heard the Kochs withdrew from Bluegrass Boardwalk. Oh my.
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