LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Stellar Snacks cut the ceremonial ribbon Friday on a major economic development project in west Louisville.

Stellar has been retrofitting the 434,000-square-foot building in the Park Hill neighborhood since moving in last spring. It has installed equipment, hired and trained new staff, added a rail spur and connected a piping system that will move flour from arriving rail cars into nearby silos.

On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear, Mayor Craig Greenberg and dozens of community leaders helped celebrate the grand opening.

"It just continues the wonderful momentum," Greenberg said. "We opened the first new hospital in over 150 years in west Louisville on Monday. To be opening this great pretzel factory, creating already 50 jobs on the way to 300-plus jobs, is absolutely amazing."

The Louisville operation gives Stellar important access to grocery stores and retailers in the eastern U.S., said Elisabeth Galvin, the company's co-founder and an entrepreneur who was raised in southeastern France.

Right now, more than half the company's employees live in walking distance, which, co-founder Gina Galvin said, is by design.

"The way we found west Louisville was by looking for the right footprint — so the right building, the right rail access ..." she said. "But we fell in love when we came here and we met people."

And employees said the feeling is mutual. Rashod Golden, a production supervisor, said Friday he believes this is just the beginning of the company's impact on west Louisville.

"Working for Stellar has changed the trajectory of my life," Golden said. "This company is hiring over 350 people years down the line. So this is going to change the whole situation of the west end of Louisville."

The company must hire its first 100 employees by the end of 2026 and invest at least $60 million by 2030 or start paying back a public subsidy, according to its agreement with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. Galvin said Stellar is on track to meet those targets.  

Stellar Snacks (Drone)

The Stellar Snacks warehouse in Louisville's Park Hill neighborhood. October 24, 2024 (WDRB photo)

A state incentives board last year approved $2.25 million in grant funds for Stellar, including up to $1 million for work on the rail spur and related improvements and $1.25 million in job credits. The company stands to get additional job credits — $300 per job — for workers hired from the nine nearby neighborhoods of Parkland, Shawnee, Park Duvalle, Russell, Portland, California, Chickasaw, Park Hill and Algonquin.

Stellar figures show 23 of the initial employees — or about half — are from those neighborhoods.

Workers at the plant would make $30.20 per hour, including benefits, according to state documents. And Elisabeth Galvin said early figures show that Stellar is exceeding those goals.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, who for years as advocated for west Louisville to see renewed advancement and development, hopes the expansion leads to market rate housing.

"Their snack may be called stellar, but it's a snack for stellar," Cosby said. "It is a buffet for economic development in west Louisville.

"We have got to make ... west Louisville a place to live and not just leave."

Related Stories:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.