Westlake Chemical Corp. is investing $130 million in its Calvert City facility, allowing for employee job retention, as well as upgrades at the facility. The upgrades will improve plant efficiency, reducing bottlenecks in the manufacture of products that are used for construction materials, including piping, windows, fencing and decking.
Westlake is one of Marshall County’s biggest employers, with nearly 400 workers at the plant, alongside 150 full-time contractors.
Calvert City Mayor Lynn Jones says Westlake’s commitment will have a rippling effect on the city's economy.
“I think the biggest indirect that most people never measure is the morale and just the esteem that comes from that kind of investment," Jones said. "It makes, obviously, the employees very proud that they work at the plant.”
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved Westlake in October for $10 million in performance-based tax incentives to encourage the investment.
Construction will begin at the plant as early as the end of this year.
