{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Euro Sticks bringing 90 jobs to Corbin &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Pfm2XjJaT9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/euro-sticks-bringing-90-jobs-corbin\/\">Euro Sticks bringing 90 jobs to Corbin<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/euro-sticks-bringing-90-jobs-corbin\/embed\/#?secret=Pfm2XjJaT9\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Euro Sticks bringing 90 jobs to Corbin&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"Pfm2XjJaT9\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Spec-Building-site.jpg","thumbnail_width":624,"thumbnail_height":351,"description":"The Southeast Kentucky Business Park will be the new home to an ice-cream and coffee-stir sticks manufacturing plant. Euro Sticks, a French family-owned manufacturer, plans to expand and finish out a speculative building into a facility designed to manufacture up to 2 billion ice-cream and coffee-stir sticks per year. The initial investment is estimated at $15 million. The facility will employ up to 90 people directly. In addition, it may spur more jobs in the local timber industry as company officials explained that the primary raw material will be locally grown beech logs. As a hardwood, beech is strong and largely lacks odor and flavor, making it preferred for food-grade uses. \u201cAbundant beech resources and the availability of quality manpower were major factors in our decision to locate our new plant in Kentucky. We also received a warm, professional welcome from the local Corbin team,\u201d said Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Debacker, Euro Sticks president and owner. \u201cWe look forward to operating a successful manufacturing operation that contributes to the Kentucky economy.\u201d Founded in 1926, the company made components for shoes prior to World War II. Thereafter, it moved into production of tongue depressors, splints and other wooden devices. As the market for popsicle and ice-cream sticks grew internationally, Euro Sticks Group expanded. The company now operates plants in the Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey as well as distribution facilities in Australia and Mexico. It employs 500 people and supplies over 10 billion sticks annually. Bruce Carpenter, executive director of the Southeast Kentucky Industrial Development Authority, applauded the company.\u2028\u2028\u201cThis is a great project for our region and I have to thank Euro Sticks for making the Southeast Kentucky Business Park the home of its first project in North America,\u201d Carpenter said. \u201cWe\u2019re very appreciative of the investment in our community and of the good quality jobs North America Sticks will create. We\u2019re looking forward to helping and supporting them as they grow in the future.\u201d City of Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said the company\u2019s investment will affect the local economy.\u2028\u201cI would like to welcome North America Sticks to the Southeast Kentucky Regional Business Park. Corbin is grateful for the investment and the jobs North America Sticks plans to create,\u201d Mayor McBurney said. \u201cWe look forward to mutually beneficial partnership for many years to come.\u201d Rep. Jim Stewart III, of Flat Lick, said he anticipates North America Sticks will find its new location makes a great fit. \u201cThe announcement of a global manufacturer bringing its latest\u2013 and its first North American \u2013 facility to southeast Kentucky speaks volumes about the resources, benefits and quality of life employers can find in our area.\u201d Rep. Stewart said. \u201cNorth America Sticks will make a wonderful corporate partner for our region and a stellar addition to Kentucky\u2019s manufacturing industry.\u201d To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved Euro Sticks for tax incentives up to $3 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. \u2028\u00a0\u2028In addition, Euro Sticks can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies are eligible to receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. Last year, the Kentucky Skills Network trained more than 84,000 employees from more than 5,600 Kentucky companies. Today, we are excited to welcome the financial commitment and new jobs to Eastern Kentucky,\u201d said Governor Matt Bevin. \u201cThis announcement is further proof that our state is a top location for manufacturers with a global client base.\u201d"}