Company has existing facilities in Fayette and Jefferson counties

FRANKFORT, KY - On Jan. 29, 2025, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted the continued momentum within the state’s manufacturing industry as UniFirst Corp. - a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services - will expand its existing facility in Owensboro with a nearly $28 million investment.

“The commonwealth’s manufacturing industry continues to grow, leading the way for our thriving economy and providing opportunities for families across Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “UniFirst’s choice to expand in Owensboro is a testament to our state’s talented workforce and notable resources. I want to thank company leadership for their commitment to our great state and look forward to UniFirst’s continued success here in Kentucky.”

The Owensboro expansion project is a comprehensive upgrade and expansion of the company’s existing 360,000-square-foot distribution and fulfillment center and includes several key components aimed to expand building space, upgrade equipment and enhance personalization capabilities to support continued growth and increase operational capacity.

“Serving our customers remains our top priority, and this expansion strengthens our ability to meet their needs with quality and responsiveness,” said Steven Sintros, UniFirst president and CEO. “At the same time, we’re proud to continue our more than 20-year relationship with the Owensboro community and supporting the state’s manufacturing excellence.”

Founded in 1936 by Aldo Croatti, UniFirst began as an industrial laundry operation in Dorchester, Massachusetts, offering heavy soil garment cleaning paired with exceptional customer service to meet the needs of local workers. UniFirst has evolved into a North American leader in the uniform and workwear solutions industry. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, safety clothing and floorcare products at its three manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations and 16,000-plus employee team partners, the company outfits more than 2 million workers every day.

Daviess County Judge/Executive Charlie Castlen mentioned the company’s history in Owensboro: “In the late 1990s, UniFirst chose Owensboro for their most advanced, state-of-the-art distribution center. The company has continued to invest in new technology and facility upgrades, while increasing employment. I want to thank UniFirst for their commitment to our community. This represents yet another milestone in the company’s continued growth here.”

Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson welcomed the project: “I am so excited about the UniFirst announcement. Once again this proves that Owensboro is ready and open for business. Congrats to all who made this possible.”

Owensboro City Manager Nate Pagan noted the impact the project will have on the area: “We’re proud of UniFirst’s long-term presence in the city. This investment and expansion signifies UniFirst’s belief that Owensboro is a good location for business and expects to remain for years to come.”

Claude Bacon, CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, spoke on the work that went into the expansion: “It has been a pleasure to work with UniFirst on this expansion project over the last twelve months. Their continued commitment to our community is both appreciated and valued. This investment reinforces their confidence in Owensboro and Daviess County as a prime location for growth, and we look forward to their continued success.”

UniFirst’s investment and job creation builds on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 59,800 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $14 billion more than the next highest total.

The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.

Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job

 BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.

The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.

Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.

Last March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.

Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. The Governor also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in December preliminarily approved UniFirst for up to $250,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, UniFirst can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives. 

For more information on UniFirst, visit UniFirst.com.

A detailed community profile for Daviess County can be viewed here.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.