October 1, 2007

Bowling Green Area NASCO is Industry of the Year, Says Chamber of Commerce

BOWLING GREEN, KY—The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce will honor South Central Kentucky's industries on Thursday, October 25, at the Industry Appreciation Banquet at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green. The event will spotlight NASCO, the 2007 Industry of the Year, and will show appreciation to the many industries choosing to locate or expand in South Central Kentucky. Also, participants will celebrate this year's nine major new industry announcements, which are bringing 1,500 new jobs and more than $81 million worth of investment to the region.

On October 1, the Chamber announced that NASCO (NHK of America Suspension Components Inc.) would be honored as the 2007 Industry of the Year. Over the years the Bowling Green NASCO facility has grown significantly, supplying 12.3 million automotive coil springs, 2.7 million trunk lid torsion bars and 2.3 million stabilizer links annually for Toyota, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Isuzu, NUMMI, and Mitsubishi vehicles built in North America. The award marks the second time NASCO has been honored as Industry of the Year, having first won Industry of the Year in 1996.

Chamber Board of Directors Chair Mary Cohron is thrilled by the achievements this year, as well as the opportunity to celebrate local industries that boost the region's economy. "Not only are we celebrating NASCO, a great source of pride in our community, but we're also honoring the other industries that are so important to our region. With so many great achievements for the year, Thursday night is sure to be a fantastic event!"

"The growth that South Central Kentucky has seen recently is invigorating. To have more than $81 million of investments in just three counties is phenomenal, but that's just the start," said Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker. "The initial investments and jobs will lead to more growth and more money flowing through our economy, a winning situation for all South Central Kentuckians."

"The results demonstrate that South Central Kentucky truly has adopted a regional approach to economic development. We recognize that an industry may be looking for something Warren County can offer, or they may want something one of our partnering counties can provide better than we can. That's why it's important to partner with other regional economic development professionals; an investment in the region benefits everyone," said Warren County Judge-Executive Michael Buchanon.