A new economic investment is coming to Maysville-Mason County.
Gov. Andy Beshear recently announced that Midwest Equipment Manufacturing Inc. will invest $15 million in a new local facility, creating 66 skilled jobs.
On Thursday, Dec. 18, Scottie Ellis with the Governor’s Office stated that Midwest Equipment Manufacturing Inc.’s new Maysville facility will serve as a hub, not only for manufacturing, but to “help alleviate labor shortages and production backlogs affecting other locations.”
“We continue to see leaders in the manufacturing sector invest in the Commonwealth and our communities, providing good-paying, quality job opportunities for Kentuckians, and this includes 66 new jobs being created by Midwest Equipment Manufacturing,” stated Gov. Beshear. “I want to thank the company’s leaders for relocating and investing in Mason County, and I look forward to seeing their success in our New Kentucky Home.”
Several key operations will be relocated to the Maysville facility, including the True-Cut Mower, 500 Series Brown Bear Composter, Trac Vac Lawn Vacuums, Tru-Cut Reel Mowers, Brown Bear Aerator, Broyhill Golf Course Equipment, Packer Brothers Plate Compactors, Power Trek Rental Wood Chipper, Load and Pack Refuse Equipment, and Arrow Master Concrete Breaker.
“I’m incredibly pleased with the Midwest Equipment Manufacturing project and their ambitions to open operations in Maysville,” stated Mason County Judge Executive Owen McNeill. “For Maysville, this deal fits perfectly as they’ll retain our own historic Wald LLC and their 101 years in operation, within a corporate umbrella that will also add Tru-Cut Mowers, Brown Bear Composters, Trac Vac Lawn Vacuums, Packer Brothers and many more. Ultimately, the Kallevig Family is combining four other sites from across three states to operate and manufacturer their lines out of Downtown Maysville. Those lines will join and ultimately extend Wald LLC’s 101-year history of manufacturing excellence.”
According to Ellis, Dan and Renee Kallevig lead the family-owned enterprise Midwest Equipment Manufacturing, bringing over 23 years of manufacturing industry experience to the table.
“The company’s passion lies in building efficient processes and revitalizing American manufacturing,” said Ellis.
In a statement provided by Keith Pawsat, Vice President of Wald LLC, the Pawsat family is “extremely excited” about the company’s new chapter. Wald LLC has been in business for over 120 years and has been family-owned and operated through over four generations.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to our past and current employees for their unwavering dedication and hard work. It is their commitment that has enabled us to remain competitive and sustain our operations through the decades,” read the statement. “This partnership with Midwest Manufacturing and the Kallevig family is precisely what we’ve been seeking to ensure continued operations with our existing workforce, while fully utilizing our excess capacity and extensive capabilities. We are thrilled that the new owners will grow the company, creating additional employment opportunities in Mason County and the surrounding areas. We wish the new team all the best as they lead Wald into the future.”
The Maysville facility will be located in downtown Maysville’s East End on Center Street. McNeill expressed that he is excited “for the potential that this investment has for Maysville’s East End.”
“Midwest Equipment Manufacturing will join EDS, Central Supply and others that are truly making a difference in terms of redevelopment in Maysville’s East End,” he stated.
According to Maysville’s Mayor, Debra Cotterill, the City of Maysville fully supports the Midwest Equipment Manufacturing relocation.
“We remain committed to sustaining the positive momentum within our community and are excited to not only retain 16 valuable manufacturing jobs in our city but also welcome the creation of an additional 66 positions through Midwest Equipment Manufacturing’s expansion,” Coterill stated.
According to Tyler McHugh, Executive Director of the Maysville-Mason County Industrial Development Authority, this relocation is an important step in strengthening the local community’s manufacturing base and a reflection of significant reinvestment in the East End, supporting “ongoing efforts to revitalize one of Maysville’s most historic manufacturing corridors.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the Pawsat family for more than 100 years of dedication to Maysville and Mason County. Their commitment to local manufacturing, jobs, and community investment helped shape our industrial base and leaves a lasting legacy,” McHugh stated. “As Midwest Equipment Manufacturing locates in Maysville, we look forward to building on that foundation with new partners who share the same values of quality, workforce investment, and community support. This transition represents both a respect for our past and a strong vote of confidence in Maysville’s future.”
McNeill expressed that McHugh did a “masterful job” helping the company navigate available programming in Kentucky.
“From identifying and navigating different incentive packages to informing Dan and Midwest’s team on available workforce options, truly made the difference with this project,” he concluded.
Gov. Beshear had previously announced a new initiative titled New Kentucky Home, which is aimed at helping increase economic investment. A 15-year incentive agreement was approved in October by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) as part of the initiative.
Ells explained, “The performance-based agreement can provide up to $1 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $15 million and annual targets of: Creation and maintenance of 66 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and Paying an average hourly wage of $21.87, including benefits, across those jobs.
“By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments. In addition, Midwest Equipment Manufacturing can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.”
