Gov. Steve Beshear joined state, local and community officials as well as a large crowd of community business people and citizens at an official welcome celebration for Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems, Inc. last Wednesday afternoon at their future manufacturing location in the Russell County Business Park in the former Hitachi Cable Building.

The German-based automotive supplier is creating 155 full-time jobs and investing more than $29 million in Kentucky, according to Beshear.

“Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems is a world class company with plants all over the globe,” Beshear said. “We are excited to have Dr. Schneider in the Commonwealth, and we welcome the 155 jobs and $29 million investment in Russell Springs. This is a company with a rich history and a promising future, and we’re especially happy to see it join our thriving auto industry.”

Beshear said Russell County had the quality workforce that they were looking for and that the community should be proud of such an honor.

“This is a company that has a rich history and a promising future,” the governor said.

The 85-year-old family enterprise is a pioneer in the processing of plastics, and produces high-end vent and trim systems for top automotive original equipment manufacturers around the world. To meet increasing customer demand, the company is establishing a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary in Russell Springs, where the plant will manufacture parts for companies such as Ford, GM, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and more.

“At the end of the incentive selection process where we checked 69 locations, we decided to choose Russell Springs,” said Wilhelm Wirth, a member of the Dr. Schneider board of directors.

“The decisive factors included the quality and expandibility of the facility and the competitive location costs. The professional cooperation with the local and state business development departments confirmed our decision, as well. We are convinced that at this location we will be able to work more efficiently for our current customers, including Mercedes, BMW and Ford, and that we can win new partners.”

Wirth said the building at 223 Progress Dr. in which they will be locating was perfect for their new operation, citing its size of more than 60,000 square feet and its good condition.

Branscum Construction of Russell Springs has been working as the construction manager for the facility, bringing it up to Dr. Schneider’s standards in recent weeks. Steve Branscum, Project Manager Jeff Cook and the Branscum team played a very active role in the negotiations with the company throughout the process.

Gene Royalty, the executive director of the Russell County Industrial Development Authority, said economic development is not understood by a great number of people but that it takes a team of devoted individuals to make positive things like the addition of Dr. Schneider’s happen.

“We’ve also had excellent support from the economic development cabinet and Secretary Larry Hayes and the board,” Royalty said.

The location of Dr Schneider further strengthens Kentucky’s automotive industry, which includes more than 450 motor vehicle-related facilities. At the mid-year point for 2013, Kentucky ranked third in light vehicle production in the United States and first on a per capita basis.

As a German-owned company, Dr. Schneider increases Kentucky’s foreign direct investment presence. There are approximately 60 German-based companies with facilities in Kentucky employing more than 8,300 people. Kentucky maintains economic development offices in Hamburg, Germany and Toyota, Japan, which work to cultivate new and existing relationships abroad for the Commonwealth.

“Along with Gov. Beshear, I want to welcome Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems Inc. to our community,” said Rep. Jeff Hoover of Jamestown. “We look forward to the company developing a long and fruitful relationship with the people of Russell County and we are excited about the opportunities they bring to our economy and workforce.”

“We welcome Dr. Schneider to our community,” said Sen. Chris Girdler, of Somerset, who until recently represented this area until legislative redistricting several weeks ago. “We have every confidence that this relationship will only grow and prosper for many years to come.”

Sen. Sara Beth Gregory, who now represents Russell County in the state senate, also attended the commemorative event and was lauded by Girdler for her continuing work in the senate.

“The Russell County Fiscal Court is pleased to welcome Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems to Russell County,” said Russell County Judge-Executive Gary Robertson. “We look forward to the contribution this international company will make to our local economy and job creation and capital investment.”

“The city of Russell Springs is fortunate that a company like Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems has chosen to locate in our city,” said Russell Springs Mayor Eric Selby. “The city of Russell Springs has partnered with Gov. Beshear and his staff along with Russell County Industrial Development Authority. We look forward to another global manufacturing company in Russell Springs.”

Jamestown Mayor Terry Lawless also spoke and welcomed the company to the Lake Cumberland area.

“On behalf of the city of Jamestown, I would like to thank Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems on their decision to locate here in Russell County,” Lawless said. “Their decision will be most beneficial to the people of Russell County and we look forward to having them in our community.”

To encourage the investment and job creation in Russell Springs, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $4 million 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.

For more information on Dr. Schneider, visit www.dr-schneider.com/en/. To apply for jobs call or visit your local Kentucky Career Center, or for inquiries and requests for applications send an email to info_usa@dr-schneider.com.

Russell County has also been certified by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board as a Work Ready in Progress Community.

The certification is an assurance to business and industry that the community is committed to providing the highly skilled workforce required in today’s competitive global economy.

Information Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.