FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) – The office of Gov. Matt Bevin announced Thursday that barrel manufacturer Independent Stave Co. will create 220 jobs for Kentuckians with a new $66.5 million cooperage in Morehead.
The project was prompted by a strong demand in the bourbon and whiskey industry.
“Independent Stave is a strong corporate partner to Kentucky with multiple locations across the commonwealth. This new investment, which will create 220 jobs in Eastern Kentucky, is the latest sign that ISC has truly made itself at home in our state,” Gov. Bevin said. “The bourbon industry plays a significant role in our economy, and that extends to cooperages and other sectors. We are grateful to the company for its continued commitment to Kentucky and are excited about its prospects for continued growth in the future.”
A press release from the governor said that ISC plans to buy land in Rowan County for its cooperage and purchase new machinery and equipment to outfit the barrel-making plant.
ISC opened a stave mill in Morehead in September 2015, which the press release said will supply the new cooperage. Company leaders plan to start the cooperage’s construction in early 2019 and open by July 2021.
“Our strategic plan has been simple – continue investing to best support our customers and the ongoing growth of the wine and spirits industry,” said Brad Boswell, CEO of ISC and fourth-generation cooper. “After looking at several locations for a cooperage, we decided on land in Rowan County. The proximity to our stave mills as well as access to cooperage quality white oak in the surrounding area makes this the perfect location to build our third bourbon barrel cooperage. Rowan and the neighboring counties also provide a skilled workforce to draw from to make high-quality products in a technical environment.”
ISC, a family-owned cooperage company headquartered in Missouri, reaches distilleries, wineries, and breweries in more than 40 countries.
Rowan County Judge-Executive Walter Blevins said ISC has had a positive impact on the community.
“We appreciate having Independent Stave’s Morehead Wood Products facility here. The good paying, high-quality jobs have made a dramatic impact in our region,” Judge-Executive Blevins said. “We could not be more excited and appreciative of the announcement of this great new facility bringing 220 new additional jobs with a $66.5 million investment. Jobs of this quality have and will continue to change the lives of many families in our area.”
For more information on Independent Stave Co., visit www.IndependentStaveCompany.com.
