FLORENCE, Ky. (AP) — A global manufacturer of cosmetics and hair care products announced plans to add 211 jobs at its northern Kentucky plant, nearly doubling its workforce as part of a $42 million expansion project at the facility.
Eric Wolff, manager of the L’Oreal USA plant at Florence, said last week that the expansion will enable the company to meet increased consumer demand for hair care brands being produced in Kentucky.
L’Oreal currently has about 220 employees at the Florence plant and another 60 at its distribution center in Walton, said Daniel Lowry, a spokesman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. The company plans to start hiring new plant workers in the first quarter of 2013 and will continue adding to its workforce into 2014, he said.
State officials including Gov. Steve Beshear attended the expansion announcement.
“The commonwealth’s partnership with L’Oreal demonstrates the quality of workforce in northern Kentucky, as well as the advantages that come with such an ideal location for business,” Beshear said.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority has given preliminary approval for up to $5 million in tax incentives for the expansion. Those incentives, offered through the Kentucky Business Investment program, are tied to job and investment targets for L’Oreal.
The company also has been approved for tax benefits up to $800,000 through another program that allows companies to recoup state sales and use taxes on such things as construction costs and equipment.
L’Oreal USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L’Oreal SA, based in Paris, France. Beshear met with L’Oreal officials in Paris during an economic development trip to Europe this summer.