Bardstown lands global company that will bring more than 215 jobs

WDRB 41 Louisville News

Posted: May 20, 2016 3.53 PM EDT

By Rachel Collier

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) — Bardstown, Ky., has landed a new plant that will bring in more than 215 jobs.

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Thai Summit will open in January in the Nelson Industrial Park, the company’s third facility in North America.

A group of costumed singers performed, “My Old Kentucky Home” to give a warm Kentucky welcome to executives and leaders from Thailand.

Kentucky had some competition in winning them over.

“We looked at Kentucky, we looked at Tennessee, Indiana … they all gave us a good package, it was a difficult decision,” said Dr. Woody Iddhibhakdibongse, Vice President of Administration for Thai Summit America Corporation.

Nelson County leaders say it came down to several things, including location.

“When we came to the table, it wasn’t just about the money,” said Kim Huston, President of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency. “We promised them we wanted to be with them every step of the way and grow with them. They fell in love with Bardstown, and they told us that, too.”

 

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Thai Summit will have room to expand over the years in Nelson Industrial Park.

“The fact that you have chosen to come here, to put a deep root into Bardstown, a community that is growing so rapidly, this is a tremendous honor,” Gov. Matt Bevin said. “So thank you.”

Thai Summit is an auto supplier and will produce stamped and welded aluminum for Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant. It was crucial for the plant to be near international automotive companies, including close proxim
ity to Ford.

“They had to be within an hour of the Ford Truck Plant, that’s always very important for the logistics of them. They’re going to be sending lots of trucks back and forth, and we were within that range. Yet again, Ford is critically important to Bardstown. We have a lot of suppliers here that are going up and down the interstate taking parts to Ford,” Huston said.

Thai Summit Autoparts Group is a family company headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

“They’re one of the largest companies in Asia, and certainly in Thailand,” Huston said, “And when they started looking across the state and came to Bardstown, we knew they’re a company with a culture like ours here. We are very automotive-driven here, and we thought Bardstown would be the perfect, ideal location.”

“Thai Summit seems like a great family. They treat their employees very well. We’re excited about the opportunities that are going to come from this plant, and the future expansions that are planned for this plant as well. Most certainly, the investment, the opportunity for our citizens to have a better way of life is important to us.”

The company will start out with 216 jobs and there are already plans for more.

“There are plans, long-term plans to double that, even more at one time. I think this will continue to grow. (It) adds to Ford business and other businesses they’re going after will grow with them,” said Dean Watts, Nelson County Judge/Executive.

“For a community like Bardstown, we are blessed that a company like Thai Summit chose us,” Huston said.

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Thai Summit Kentucky will open January 2017 at the Nelson County Industrial Park

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Ceremonial groundbreaking of Thai Summit Kentucky

Source: www.wdrb.com/story/32027546/bardstown-lands-global-company-that-will-bring-more-than-215-jobs