Corning Specialty Materials Invests in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, to Accommodate Gorilla Glass Growth

Corning Specialty Materials will add between 50 and 80 jobs in Harrodsburg, Kentucky to make Gorilla glass — a hard, scratch-resistant glass used in electronics such as televisions — Business Lexington reports. The company opened its Harrodsburg plant in 1952.

"From the beginning, Harrodsburg had been very effective in supporting our Gorilla glass business," said Jim Steiner, senior vice president and general manager of Corning. "The expansion was the fastest and most cost-effective way to get more capacity. We find Harrodsburg to be not only a good production site, but an excellent development facility for us to get businesses started, which is very important to us. The plant has responded terrifically."

Corning will invest approximately $186 million to expand its Gorilla glass business. It will also invest in its thin film photovoltaic glass operations. The state of Kentucky extended Corning $4.5 million in business investment incentives and up to $1 million in tax rebates for construction costs.