Wholesale produce packer and distributor Castellini Co. is expanding their Wilder facility with a $16.6 million investment.
The expansion plans include adding a 36,000-square-foot industrial freezer and installing pick-to-light order technology. Castellini leadership said they want to increase the facility’s capabilities and efficiency.
“We are excited about what this investment in our Wilder facility means for both the growth of Castellini Co. and for the people of Northern Kentucky,” said Bob Castellini, chairman of Castellini Co. “Our new freezer warehouse and order picking technology will allow us to continue to be a leader in the perishable third-party logistics industry.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear touted the investment’s impact on the local economy and job market. Overall, it’s projected to create 180 full-time jobs, with 128 expected to go to Kentucky residents.
“Manufacturing and distribution and logistics are both crucial sectors in Kentucky, and companies like Castellini expanding their operations adds to the growth we’re seeing,” Beshear said.
Campbell County leaders such as Judge/Executive Steve Pendery and Wilder Mayor Valerie Jones attended Beshear’s announcement, thanking Castellini for their investment into the community.
“This is an exciting day for the City of Wilder. Castellini Company is a valued employer in the City of Wilder and we welcome the new, good-paying jobs being created for our residents and the broader community,” Jones said. “Wilder is well positioned for manufacturing companies with ideal proximity to the highway system in Northern Kentucky.”
Additionally, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, or KEDFA, preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the Castellini under the Kentucky Business Investment program.
The performance-based agreement could provide the company up to $2.05 million in tax incentives based on their $16.6 million investment and hitting their annual job creation and average hourly wage targets.
The transportation and logistics sector is one of the most important industries in the Northern Kentucky economy. As a state, Kentucky has experienced job growth in that sectors over the past decade with Northern Kentucky being a key driver behind that growth. Since Beshear took office in December 2019, approximately 7,700 full-time jobs were added in the sector statewide, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
