HENDERSON, Ky. – We’ve known for months that the Pratt Paper Kentucky complex being built just south of Henderson would be big.
Now, we’re getting a sense of just how big the industrial complex — which Gov. Andy Beshear last year said “is the largest jobs announcement, we believe, in Western Kentucky in 25 years” — will be.
On behalf of Pratt, the City of Henderson last month secured a building permit valued at a whopping $125 million — perhaps the biggest ever issued here, not adjusted for inflation — for a paper mill covering 372,000 square feet. The mill will recycle used corrugated containers and other materials to make paper for new corrugated boxes.
The city obtained the building permit because the Pratt complex is being financed through an industrial revenue bond, and the city owns the 200-acre plant site on the Kentucky 425/South Bypass.
Pratt General Manager Ed Kersey told the Henderson Lions Club last week that the company’s investment in the industrial complex, originally put at $400 million, is now expected to total at least $500 million.
The complex will employ 325 people in what he called “good paying” jobs when it is operational.
The city obtained the building permit because the Pratt complex is being financed through an industrial revenue bond, and the city owns the 200-acre plant site on the Kentucky 425/South Bypass.
Pratt General Manager Ed Kersey told the Henderson Lions Club last week that the company’s investment in the industrial complex, originally put at $400 million, is now expected to total at least $500 million.
The complex will employ 325 people in what he called “good paying” jobs when it is operational.
A second permit will be secured later for the second part of the Pratt complex, a corrugated box manufacturing plant that will use paper from the recycling mill to produce boxes for customers such as Home Depot, Procter & Gamble, Amazon and Domino’s Pizza. Combined, the recycling mill and box plant will encompass some 1 million square feet.
Kersey, who has overseen construction of all six of Pratt’s U.S. paper mills during his 30-plus-year career with the company, spoke highly of Henderson’s business-friendly environment.
“This town has been very welcoming to us,” he said. “There’s been zero negative impact. You can’t say that about every place. Henderson has been without doubt far better than any other (place where Pratt has constructed a) facility.”
And he noted that the Pratt Paper operation will employ people here for generations.
“This plant will not be here for five years,” Kersey said. “It will be here at least 100 years.”
Other notable city commercial permits issued last month included:
- A nearly $1.9 million permit to Deaconess Hospital Henderson obtained (under its original name of Community United Methodist Hospital) for remodeling 13,242 square feet in the lower level the North Tower at the hospital at 1305 N. Elm St.
- A $280,000 permit to The Imperial Group LLC for internal demolition of some former medical offices at the Imperial Building at 110 Third St. in preparation for converting much of the structure to apartments and new retail spaces.
- A $200,000 permit issued to 42420H LLC for remodeling the former First National Bank/Bank of Henderson building at 212 N. Main St. for a new event space, coffee shop and upstairs apartments.
- An $18,000 permit to Allfood Offill Co. for a commercial range hood and exhaust system for the kitchen at the remodeled Diamond Lanes Echo at 1698 Second St.
Meanwhile, new home construction stirred to life a bit last month.
The city codes office issued permits for three new homes with an average construction value of just over $200,000, the first such permits of 2022 issued by the city.
One $278,000 permit for a new home issued by the county codes office brought the April total to four housing starts, compared with six in April 2021.
So far this year, the city and county have issued permits for eight new single-family residences, compared with 21 housing starts during the first four months of 2021.
The giant permit issued for the Pratt project naturally inflated the total value of all building permits so far this year, to $149.5 million. Excluding the Pratt project, permits this year have totaled $24.5 million, compared with $10.3 million during the first four months of 2021.