Governor Steve Beshear was on hand to celebrate the official announcement of the expansion Plastikon in the city of Leitchfield Thursday afternoon.

Plastikon Plant Manager Patrick Ferland had previously announced the company’s decision to purchase the old Leitchfield Plastics building on Commerce Drive and renovate it to house an additional facility that will bring more than 100 jobs to the area.

On Thursday afternoon that announcement became official when the govenor along with Grayson County and Leitchfield City Officials welcomed Plastikon executives to the area.

“This is a very, very, very good day for the citizens of Kentucky,” said Beshear. “We are here to enjoy the excitement of a $6 million expansion in a company here in Grayson County. That investment shows Plastikon has a lot of confidence in the workforce and the government here. That investment will bring 100 news jobs to the county. That means 100 families will be able to go to sleep at night knowing they will be able to feed their family and keep a roof over their heads.”

Plastikon manufactures plastic automotive interior trim for tier-one and tier-two suppliers. The company, formerly known as Inplast, has been operational in Leitchfield since 2006 and currently employs 90 people. The second facility is expected to be operational by April and in full production by the end of November 2011.

Leitchfield Mayor William H. Thomason as well as industrial consultant Dudley Cooper and Former Industrial Development President David Bennett had traveled to California in December of 2008 to meet with the managers of Plastikon in hopes of bringing this plant to the city.

Then in 2009 the bottom fell out of the automobile industry and all plans for expansion were put on hold.

Since that time the members of the council and the industrial board have worked closely with the Plasikon to make this expansion happen.

With a plant already in Leitchfield, the company had originally planned to add onto the back of that building but when the company found the empty building on Commerce Drive already set up, company leaders decided to revise their plans.

“Our 120 team members and managers have proved their dedication, loyalty and hard work, establishing our presence in the Midwest as a first-class injection molding facility,” said Fred Soofer, President and CEO of Plastikon. “Their efforts have resulted in further business opportunities for us. Additionally, the good logistical location, receptive workforce and cooperation of state and local officials, gave us the conviction and confidence to set up our second plant, but in Leitchfield.”

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Plastikon Industries Kentucky for tax incentives up to $1.5 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The City of Leitchfield assisted in the expansion with a $5 million bond agreement.

“Our community has been hit hard by job loss and harsh economic times. In a time when very few companies have the capability to retain their current business much less think about expansion, we are fortunate to have a great business that will be expanding and adding jobs in our community,” said Thomason. “We were proud to see Plastikon move to Leitchfield a few years ago and are even more excited today that they have chosen Leitchfield again to expand their business. Plastikon’s expansion is an investment in our community that will provide skilled jobs and opportunities for our residents and will promote our local economy.”