Cabinet for Economic Development
Gov. Beshear Announces Valley Truck Equipment to Expand in Utica, Add 12 Jobs

Truck equipment company to invest $678,000 in the Commonwealth

FRANKFORT Ky. (Oct. 11, 2012) – Governor Steve Beshear today announced Valley Truck Equipment LLC plans to expand its operation in Utica, adding 12 jobs and investing $678,000 in improvements at its existing Daviess County facility.

“Here’s a company that started right after the economic downturn began, yet Valley Truck Equipment has continued to grow and succeed.  Now they will triple their workforce to meet demand, and that’s an exciting story to share,” Gov. Beshear said. “We’re happy to partner with Valley Truck Equipment to make this expansion possible.”

Valley Truck Equipment began business in Daviess County in 2009, and currently has six employees. The company sells, installs and repairs a variety of equipment and accessories for vehicles, including trailers, van bodies, dump bodies, cranes, power inverters, flatbeds, tarp systems, hoists, ladder racks and more.  

“Valley Truck Equipment is excited and encouraged by the commitment from the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Valley Truck President Tina Winston. “It is an exciting time to be a small business owner in Kentucky. We were recently certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This opens up additional opportunities for Valley Truck Equipment.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in Daviess County, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $150,000 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. 

“I am always pleased to welcome employers to our community, but it is particularly special when we see a hometown business grow,” said Sen. Joe Bowen, of Owensboro.

“Kentucky is among the leading states when it comes to entrepreneurship, and companies like Valley Truck Equipment are a key reason why,” said Rep. Jim Gooch, of Providence. “This latest announcement is great news for them, as well as those families who will benefit from these new jobs. I want to thank the company for taking this step, and I’m glad that our state and local officials could help to make this happen.”

“Valley Truck’s owner Tina Winston is a wonderful example of the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and thriving in our Commonwealth,” said Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly. “With my own experience in small business, I understand the courage and determination needed to expand a business in today's economic climate. We in Daviess County appreciate her faith and investment in our community.”

For more information on Valley Truck Equipment, visit www.valleytruckequipment.com.

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 Utica (Daviess County) can be viewed at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=044.