Jeffersonville (August 22, 2018) – A third-party logistics provider that serves automotive and food manufacturing companies plans to open a new operation in River Ridge Commerce Center.
Bowling Green-based Bluegrass Supply Chain Services is leasing a 252,515-square-foot warehouse from Jeffersonville-based America Place at its Winner’s Circle Campus in the 6,000-acre Jeffersonville business park, according to a news release.
Powell Spears, managing director of JLL’s Louisville office, represented Bluegrass Supply Chain Services on the deal.
Bluegrass Supply Chain Services was awarded a contract with Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) to pack and ship electric components to Ford factories, according to the release. The firm offers warehousing, cross docking, e-commerce fulfillment, light assembly, engineering and quality support services in five states.
Ford is Louisville’s largest manufacturer.
“This new facility will play a key part in providing sequencing and value-added warehousing services to our customers. The team at America Place has been excellent to work with,” John Higgins, president of Bluegrass Supply Chain Services, said in the release.
The financial terms of the lease were not disclosed, but Higgins told me in a phone interview that his firm will invest about $1.2 million to get the facility up and running by October. He expects to have 50 employees there by April, all of whom will be new hires.
Higgins said his company chose Southern Indiana for the new operation because of the state’s business friendliness and its available workforce.
“We strive to find the best fit for our buildings and Bluegrass Supply is a great match They are an excellent company who has seen steady and sustainable growth, and we look forward to a long business relationship,” America Place CEO Jim Karp said in the release. “This lease supports our confidence in the River Ridge Commerce center and Southern Indiana as the place to be.”
America Place owns roughly 250 acres in River Ridge, where it has constructed more than 640,000 square feet of industrial space and a 40,000-square-foot, art-inspired office building designed by renowned architect Kulapat Yantrasast.
This announcement comes on the heels of the River Ridge Development Authority authorizing negotiations Monday for three more land deals for new commercial prospects in the park. The three land deals could exceed $5 million and will include nearly 66 acres.