Double D Group LLC announced a $41.5 million investment to establish a production facility in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, creating 200 direct full-time jobs and 40 contracted positions.
“This is an amazing project for Greenville and Muhlenberg County,” Gov. Beshear said. “The community needs quality job opportunities, and Double D Group will provide more than 200 of those with this investment. I want to thank the company’s leadership for committing to the community and the commonwealth.”
Double D Group will locate in an existing 300,000-square-foot building at 100 Gourmet Dining Drive in Greenville. The facility, which was built in 1956 and received USDA certification for food and protein manufacturing in 2007, has primarily been used as a warehouse facility for retail grocery distribution and has been vacant for the past six months. Company leaders will renovate the building to include two production lines for poultry products and other proteins with ample space for future growth and introduction of new product lines. Jobs created include management, clerical, skilled labor and general labor positions.
“We are a privately held company that strives to build a family-friendly business,” said CEO Dick Downs. “Being a strong community- and family-oriented company is part of our core values, and we look forward to developing that in this area.”
Double D Group is a newly established subsidiary of Fairmont Foods Inc., which maintains a warehouse facility on nearby Greene Drive in Greenville. The company has grown into a leading fully cooked protein processor and co-packer of frozen entrees.
The new location adds to Kentucky’s thriving food, beverage and agritech sector, which includes more than 350 facilities and employs over 52,000 people. Administration-to-date, new location and expansion projects within the industry are expected to create nearly 4,500 full-time jobs with over $3.9 billion in new investments. The project also adds to the commonwealth’s approximately 5,000 manufacturing facilities statewide, which employ roughly 250,000 Kentucky residents.
Muhlenberg County Judge/Executive Curtis McGehee said Greenville’s newest employer will help move the community forward.
“Our community is fortunate to land this industry; I appreciate the local leadership at Muhlenberg Alliance of Progress, as well the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development for their efforts to recruit and assist this industry,” Judge McGehee said. “We welcome Double D Group and appreciate the workforce opportunities they will bring to our community. It is a great day for Muhlenberg County!”
Greenville Mayor Jan Yonts thanked those involved with making the investment and job creation possible.
“The City of Greenville is excited to welcome the Double D Group. As mayor, I am personally grateful to the organization for recognizing the potential of not only the existing real estate, but also what all our community has to offer, and capitalizing on it,” Mayor Yonts said. “We look forward to working with the Double D Group to increase economic growth in Greenville as well as Muhlenberg County. We would like to sincerely thank Gov. Andy Beshear, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, the Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress, and most of all, the Double D Group.”
Ray Hagerman, executive director of Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress, looks forward to partnering with the company.
“This is a great day for Muhlenberg County. We are excited to join forces with Double D Group to see them succeed here in our community and provide good jobs for our citizens,” Hagerman said. “We look forward to a great partnership together.”
A detailed community profile for Muhlenberg County can be viewed here.
More information on the Governor’s AgriTech Initiative is available at AgriTech.ky.gov.
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.
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
