Known as the Kentucky Folk Arts and Crafts Capital, Berea provides access to a labor market of over 745,000 adults. Our location on I-75, in the heart of the Bluegrass Region, There are 2 railway-accessible industrial parks with over 10 large manufacturing employees. Berea is within a day’s drive to 54% of the US population.

With a population of 17,797, Berea is home to world-renowned Berea College. Each year colleges and universities within a one-hour drive produce over 12,000 graduates. With workforce training available through multiple career centers and the future home of an incoming tech school, Berea has a strong emphasis on economic development with ongoing small business workshops and educational seminars. 

Meanwhile, our local school systems have embraced our “Work Ready Certification” to ensure that the future workforce is prepared to take advantage of the job opportunities available to them. The Work Ready Communities program requires communities to meet criteria in six key areas that are critical to producing a productive workforce. The certification criteria includes an evaluation of high school graduation rates, National Career Readiness Certificate holders, community commitment, educational attainment, soft skills, and internet availability.

Today our schools are providing the next generation of adults with an educational curriculum that includes business management, computer-aided drafting, machine tool technology, and health sciences.

Coming soon: Kentucky Fried Chicken

Coming soon: Soak City Car Wash

Coming soon to Plaza Drive: New center

Berea is home to two industrial parks with over 300 acres available for future manufacturing growth and is currently home to major industrial manufacturers, that employ over 3500 people – Hitachi Automotive, Hyster-Yale, Middletown Metalworks, Novelis, KI (USA), Kentucky Steel Corporation, STEMCO, Vitro/Pittsburgh Glass Works.

Privately owned and operated, Middletown Metal Works provides custom metal fabrication, machining, and finishing including CNC machining, laser cutting, and powder coating. Middletown Metal Works processes most types of metals in their 34,000 square foot facility.

Established in 1966 Kentucky Steel Center is a steel distributor and service center that processes steel sheets, plates, and coils.  They currently employ 65 people in their 125,000 square foot facility that sits on 12 acres.

Hyster –Yale Materials Handling opened the doors to its Berea production facility in 1973 with annual production of approximately 5,000 trucks.  Today the Berea facility employs 850 people in a 960,000 square foot building.  This facility manufactures 1-9-ton internal combustion engine forklift trucks which are utilized in a wide variety of industries for material handling solutions.

On November 5, 2019, Hyster-Yale broke ground on a $25.7 million and 160,000 square foot expansion facility in Berea.  This expansion will allow them more production and workspace to grow and expand their new lines of Forklifts.

Established in Kentucky in March 2020, Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems America will supply motors on a Tier 1 basis to Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

Leaders of the newly formed Hitachi subsidiary are renovating part of sister-company Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas’ plant at 1150 Mayde Road for the operation. Electric motor production could begin between April 2022 and March 2023, in part based on the pandemic’s impact. The operation currently employs about 20 people and os expected to grow to approximately 200 in 2023.

Opening in 1987 as Tokico Manufacturing Corporation, this plant has manufactured automotive shock absorbers, struts, and brake systems for major automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM) worldwide.  In 2011, Tokico merged with Hitachi Automotive Systems America.

After a major expansion in 2016 they now occupy a 1,000,000 square foot facility on 40 plus acres of Industrial property and employ 1500 people.  This makes them the second largest employer in Madison County behind Eastern Kentucky University.

Novelis opened the doors to this manufacturing plant in 1989 and today employs 138 people in their 215,000 square foot facility that sits on 57 acres.  They are the single largest producer of aluminum rolled products, and the Berea plant is one of the world’s largest plants dedicated to aluminum can recycling, taking approximately 20 percent of the United States used aluminum cans, melting them down, and producing sheet ingots.

Since 1989 KI (USA) has been a manufacturer of automotive engine, body, and suspension products in Berea.  KI (USA) specializes in precision metal stamping, electro-coat painting, and weld assembly.  Manufactured products include engine mounts, brake boosters, engine oil pans, and other various automotive parts.  KI (USA) currently occupies a 250,000 square foot facility on 54 acres and employs over 115 employees and associates.

Since 1990 PGW has been manufacturing automotive OEM and replacement glass products from their Berea plant.  Today this 300,000 square foot plant sits on 25 acres and is providing jobs to 270 people.

For Business Development needs or questions contact Donna Angel

Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

(859) 986-8528, option 3

dangel@bereaky.gov