Officials answer questions after four companies announced job increases for this summer

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) – Two major job openings in Owensboro mean hundreds of jobs will soon be available for the city's workers.

Four key positions have been posted in Owensboro, creating nearly 670 new positions in the region.

County and city officials believe this is an upward spiral for the region and that the jobs will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more to support future growth.

“This is more than just an incredible day, it is an outstanding day,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “Because today's announcement is the largest job opening in the state of Kentucky this year in terms of number of jobs.”

Beshear said the expansion of Swedish Match, a company specializing in smokeless tobacco, will create 450 new jobs in the region. But that wasn't the only news of the day…

Major grocery chain Publix announced it will bring 150 jobs to Owensboro with the opening of a new store in Gateway Commons.

“The vast majority of these are more than just jobs. They are careers,” said Claude Bacon, CEO and president of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.

Bacon says these announcements come shortly after two other major job postings this calendar month. R&L Carriers announced the creation of 63 new positions earlier this month and Mizkan shared its intention to create an additional 44 full-time positions in July.

“Over 650 people will have a better standard of living because these companies are moving here. There is no better way to put it,” said Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen.

He says these new jobs will be of tremendous importance in retaining young job seekers and attracting new people to the community.

“These are new dollars coming into our community that wouldn't otherwise be there, so they certainly help to boost our economy in the long term,” Castlen said.

Some may wonder, “Why are all these companies coming to Owensboro?”

“It's about the people. They recognize that,” Bacon said. “These companies are expanding and there's room for more>

Bacon says those 669 new jobs announced this summer are just the beginning of a development boom for Owensboro.

He says the 450 new jobs at Swedish Match alone are expected to create 2,800 more jobs in other industries in the community and have a total economic impact of over $300 million.

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