CINCINNATI (AP) — The Whirlpool Corp., citing strong
demand for its mixers and other small kitchen appliances made in Ohio,
announced plans Friday to expand its Greenville plant and add 400 jobs.
The
plant that makes KitchenAid brand mixers and other products already
employs some 1,000 full- and part-time workers.
The company said it’s
putting $40 million into an expansion that will nearly double the size
of its operations, with 400 new jobs by 2018.
Ohio leaders were
delighted that Whirlpool decided to expand in the state, instead of in
China, Mexico or other potential locations.
"They had a lot of
choices, and they picked us," said Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who went to
Greenville for the announcement. "It’s another significant win for
Ohio."
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, called the planned
expansion "a testament to the strength of Ohio’s manufacturing sector
and the quality of Ohio’s workers," in a statement Friday. House Speaker
John Boehner, R-West Chester, also praised Whirlpool’s decision and
expressed pride in the workforce that’s part of his district.
Whirlpool
is a major employer in the mostly rural area about an hour’s drive from
Dayton. Greenville’s is one of five Whirlpool plants in Ohio.
"With
several global options for this project, our decision to expand our
Greenville facility is another way Whirlpool continues to demonstrate
our commitment to American manufacturing," Whirlpool’s chief executive,
Jeff Fettig, said in a statement.
The Dayton Development Coalition
has worked with JobsOhio, the private nonprofit job-creation operation
that is a Kasich initiative, on incentives to attract and retain
employers in the region including Whirlpool.
The Benton Harbor,
Mich.-based company, whose other brands include its namesake and Maytag,
is coming off a strong year. Sales rose 4 percent to $18.77 billion
last year.
Whirlpool said it’s seeing growing demand, especially
in newer markets, for the KitchenAid appliances led by its stand mixers.
The Greenville plant produces an average of 16,000 mixers, blenders,
attachments and other units a day, the company said.
Whirlpool shares moved up 39 cents, to $142.08, Friday.
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