LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- GE Appliances will invest $62 million in upgrades at Appliance Park, the southeast Louisville manufacturing campus, while adding 260 new jobs by the first quarter of 2021, the company said Tuesday.
All of the new jobs will be for production workers making dishwashers, washer-dryers and refrigerators, GE Appliances spokeswoman Julie Wood said.
GE Appliances, the Louisville-based unit of Chinese manufacturer Haier, generally employs 3,600 to 4,000 hourly workers. While planning more jobs next year, the company is hiring now. Jobs start at $14 per hour with $.50 hourly premiums for night shifts. Employees have the ability to advance up to $17 an hour.
More than $40 million of $62 million investment is related to four-door refrigerator models at Appliance Park's refrigeration plant -- the "fastest growing design in high-end refrigeration," the company said.
"The investments and new jobs we are announcing today are another demonstration of our commitment to continue enhancing our manufacturing footprint in the United States to serve more customers and owners faster and better," Kevin Nolan, CEO of GE Appliances, said in the news release. "We are working very hard to build a competitive position that allows us to continue expanding our workforce and invest in winning products, paving the way to becoming the leading appliance company in the United States."
The remaining $19 million investment will go to new equipment, automation and modernization to Appliance Park's dishwasher plant to support growing demand for the products, the company said.
Greater Louisville Inc. called the investment welcome news at a time when other businesses are seeing a lull because of the pandemic.
"This investment, at this time, makes sense. Especially for the increased time folks are spending at home ... Increased importance of hygiene and sanitization and the product line perfectly complements that," GLI's acting Vice President of Regional Economic Development, John Launius, said.
For more information on the jobs available at Appliance Park, click here.
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