Gov. Beshear Announces RC Components to Expand Manufacturing Operations in Bowling Green, Add 16 Jobs

Motorcycle wheels and exhaust manufacturer to invest more than $830,000

Contact:
Jessica M.L. Thompson, MTPC, IOM, Marketing & Communications Director
270-781-3200; jessica@bgchamber.com


BOWLING GREEN, KY - Governor Steve Beshear today joined community and company officials in Bowling Green to announce an expansion for RC Components. The project entails 16 new, full-time jobs and an investment of more than $836,000 in the Commonwealth. 

"RC Components started small in the owner's garage, but the company has seen tremendous growth with thousands of dealers in numerous countries," said Gov. Beshear. "We're thrilled to partner with RC Components and help the company add 16 jobs in Bowling Green."

RC Components began in 1989 in Bowling Green and has grown to more than 10,000 dealers in 36 nations. The company manufactures and sells motorcycle exhaust systems, wheels and parts. With 56 current employees in Bowling Green, RC Components plans to purchase new equipment with updated technology as part of the expansion.

"We're excited to begin our expansion and to make an additional investment in Bowling Green," said Rick Ball, president of RC Components. "We're grateful that this community works hard to create an environment that is supportive of local businesses, and we thank Gov. Beshear and our local and state leaders for helping us make today's announcement possible. We look forward to continuing to grow RC Components for many years."

To encourage the investment and job growth in Bowling Green, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $250,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

"The expansion of RC Components raises the profile of Bowling Green even more in the automotive industry," said Sen. Mike Wilson, of Bowling Green. "It is a special point of pride that we can also claim it as a hometown success story. Congratulations to RC!"

"RC Components is a perfect example of what hard work and a commitment to excellence can accomplish, so I am certainly proud to see this hometown company take another step to invest further in our community," said Rep. Jody Richards, of Bowling Green. "This is great news, especially for those families who will benefit from these new jobs, so I want to thank both the company for taking this step and our local and state officials for working together to help make this happen."

"This is an exciting announcement for Bowling Green, Warren County and South Central Kentucky," said Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson. "RC Components is demonstrating that it is confident in our positive business climate here in Bowling Green and the region. We congratulate them on the announcement today, and we thank them for choosing to expand here."

"RC Components is a great example of the quality businesses that we have in Bowling Green, Warren County and South Central Kentucky," said Warren County Judge-Executive Michael Buchanon. "We thank Rick and his team for choosing to grow here, and we deeply appreciate their commitment to increasing the economy in our region." 

The City of Bowling Green, the County of Warren, local legislators and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce assisted RC Components in the approval of its economic development project, demonstrating the entities' commitment to the company's growth. Chamber Board of Directors Chairman D. Gaines Penn said, "We're very appreciative of our local and state officials' full support of this project. Governor Beshear, our state legislators, the City and County, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development played integral roles to ensure that this project will be a success and a benefit to the region."

Penn continued, "We thank RC Components' leaders for continuing to invest in our community and region, and we extend well-deserved congratulations to the company on this expansion."

When hiring is complete, RC Components' expansion will create for additional indirect jobs in the community. Indirect jobs are those created based on the demand of the expanded workforce and investment created by the company's direct expansion. Over a 10-year period, the expansion will have a total economic impact valued at more than $25.4 million. Locally, the project will have generated an additional $3.2 million in city, county, school districts and utility tax revenue and an additional $5.5 million in household spending.

This is the fifth economic development announcement for the Chamber thus far in 2012, with a total announced investment of more than $19 million and 212 announced new jobs.

For more information on RC Components, visit www.rccomponents.com. To apply for jobs and download an application, visit www.rccomponents.com/contactus.htm.

Information on Kentucky's economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky.

A detailed community profile for Bowling Green (Warren County) can be viewed at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=067.

Follow Governor Beshear on Twitter @Govstevebeshear, read the Governor's personal notes on his blog at http://governor.ky.gov/blog, and view his video commentaries at http://www.youtube.com/governorbeshear.

About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce:

Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,300 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.

To learn more about the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.bgchamber.com.