Do you ever wonder what your hometown is known for? Owensboro, Kentucky stands out as a leading source of production for popular products including some big names you’ve probably heard of.

Manufacturers and distributors planning to begin business or relocate should consider settling in Owensboro where local government officials are eager and ready to help and support their local businesses. In fact, these 7 brands currently make their products in Owensboro.

1. RAGÚ

Did you know that every single jar of the popular pasta sauce brand RAGÚ in the nation is made in Owensboro? Mizkan acquired RAGÚ in 2014, and the RAGÚ sauce-making and distribution facility is located in Owensboro. Right now, Owensboro is the only place where RAGÚ and Bertolli sauces are made in the U.S. Every year, Mitzkan makes and ships 410 million jars of RAGÚ and Bertolli spaghetti sauce from their Owensboro facility.  

2. Bradshaw Bourbon 

Terry Bradshaw’s straight bourbon is produced at Green River Distilling Co. right here in Owensboro. Bradshaw Bourbon is known for its original taste with notes of banana, vanilla, toffee, campfire, and leather for the nose; coconut, cinnamon, baking spice, and vanilla for the palate; plus a butterscotch, vanilla, and wood finish.

According to an article from VisitOwensboro.com, Green River Distillery scores fourth on the list of largest independent bourbon distilleries in the U.S. Green River Distilling Co. is part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You can get a taste of their bourbon during one of their tours.

3. Daran® Barrier Emulsions

The Milliken chemical manufacturing facility in Owensboro produces latex polymers for various uses. The plant makes Daran® Barrier Emulsions as a packing solution for sauce portion control cups to keep out odors, moisture vapor, and oxygen. Daran® Barrier Emulsions ensure that sauces stay fresh and don’t spoil.  

4. Toyotetsu Mid America (TTMA) Auto Parts

This Owensboro-based stamping and welding automotive facility contains 8 large stamping presses and more than 225 robots producing parts for vehicles. Every day, they process more than 660,000 pounds of steel products. 

TTMA is dedicated to providing customers with the highest quality parts in the automotive industry with the utmost attention to detail. The LLC has been flourishing in Owensboro since 2001. 

5. Metalsa Auto Parts

Metalsa is another automotive facility producing car parts in Owensboro. The Metalsa plant in Owensboro is responsible for making all Jeep Gladiator truck structural frames. The frames are then shipped by rail to Toledo, Ohio from the Owensboro Riverport.

6. Swedish Match

Swedish Match produces smoke-free products such as ZYN nicotine pouches and chewing tobacco. The ZYN product line, the largest brand of nicotine pouches in the United States, is only produced in Owensboro. In 2021, 173.9 million cans of ZYN were shipped in the U.S.

7. Kentucky Legend Ham

Based in Owensboro, Specialty Foods Group produces big-name brand and private-label processed meat products. Their brands include Kentucky Legend, Field, Fischer’s, Scott Pete, Kentuckian Gold, and Mickelberry’s.

One of the most popular products Specialty Foods Group makes is Kentucky Legend ham, a highly sought-after boneless ham in the U.S. They also make turkey, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, and lunch meat.

There are a lot more where those came from. If you’re interested in starting your business in Owensboro, be sure to check out our Guide to Doing Business!

Kentucky— like other U.S. states—is facing major drawbacks from workforce shortages due to the pandemic. Thankfully, some Kentucky cities such as Owensboro offer a multitude of programs to assist those who are newly entering the workforce or those who are ready to begin working again.

Through various types of training and certificate programs, career seekers in Owensboro have the option to become medical assistants, dental assistants, electricians, truck drivers, pilots, and more. Below are 10 hands-on training courses offered in the Owensboro area. Eight of the following programs are provided by Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC).

1. GO FAME

The GO FAME Owensboro Chapter program at OCTC helps students earn a multi-craft technician degree. During the program, students receive firsthand work experience in manufacturing while collecting minimal to no debt.

2. GO Careers

OCTC offers this learn-as-you-work accelerated degree program where students have the opportunity to work three days each week at their sponsoring company while attending college classes two days each week. Career paths include Medical Assisting and Business Administration.

3. IBEW Apprenticeship Training

The IBEW Apprenticeship Training program is available to those looking to receive their Journeyman Electrical state license. The 5-year process consists of technical education and hands-on training.

4. GO Females

OCTC launched GO Females to help female workers learn the necessary skills to advance their manufacturing careers.

5. Tech-X

Tech-X is another multi-craft technologist program offered by OCTC with day or evening classes available. Students will have the opportunity to earn their Forklift Operators Certificate, Gas Welder Certificate, Production Line Welder Certificate, and Arc Cutter Certificate.

6. CDL Academy

OCTC also decided to launch a Commercial Driver’s License Academy to make strides to improve the driver shortage in Owensboro. Participating individuals will receive 160 hours of training during a four-week period to prepare them for an entry-level job in the truck driving industry.

7. OCTC Testing Available testing and assessments at OCTC include the General Education Diploma (GED) Test, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) industrial tests, WorkKeys tests, and more.

8. Nutrition Certification

There are also a handful of certification courses available in Owensboro including the holistic nutrition training program. Interested individuals can choose from an instructor-led 6-week class or a self-paced 3-month class through OCTC.

9. Medical Assistant

Ross Medical Center offers both a Medical Assistant and Dental Assistant training program at their campus in Owensboro. Students who complete the Medical Assistant program now have the skills to work in entry-level positions in a physician’s office or clinic. Students who complete the Dental Assistant program can confidently work in entry-level positions such as dental assistant, dental receptionist, administrative assistant, insurance clerk, or supply salesperson. Each of these programs ranges from 30 to 36 weeks.

10. Eagle Flight Academy

The Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport offers Eagle Flight Academy pilot training. Aspiring pilots have the option to train via the use of the Academy’s aircraft, their own aircraft, or the Academy’s FAA-certified flight simulator.

Owensboro SBDC’s Business Coach, Jamie Johnson, has had a very busy first few months of 2022. She is working on some exciting projects that will benefit our community, as well as the GO Pitch Competition that is being held on May 5th at noon at the Bluegrass Museum. 

In just the month of March, Jamie served 17 new clients and 56 existing clients. She also had 165 counseling sessions, 84 hours of client counseling, and 6 business starts. In the future, Jamie plans to continue to bring in additional clients and hours. She also plans to increase jobs supported by working with existing businesses.

A recent success story of Jamie’s is the Rivertown Market in Livermore, KY owned by Mallory Robertson. Mallory stated that after finding her building and starting to pull her business together, she realized that she would need funding to purchase inventory.

Mallory worked with Jamie to put together a business plan and financial projections for a loan through the Green River Area Development District. With Jamie’s help and guidance, the loan was approved and Mallory will be opening her store soon.

Mallory said, “Working with Jamie Johnson at the SBDC was an amazing experience. Not only did she help me tremendously with my business plan, she also went the extra mile to get to know me and build a relationship. Months after her job was completed with me, she still checks in to see how myself and my store is going, or if I have any questions. That’s what makes her excel at her job and will help me be successful in my business.”

The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) recently announced that their TRAINS program has increased its funding support for qualifying companies. TRAINS offsets the cost of customized training for incumbent worker upskilling, pre-employment training, assessments and apprenticeship programs. KCTCS’s financial assistance has expanded now offsetting 75 percent (up from 50 percent) of a business’s costs associated with developing tailored talent pipeline initiatives. With funding established by the Kentucky General Assembly, KCTCS is proud to deliver TRAINS-backed projects to help businesses across the Commonwealth equip their current and potential employees with the tools and on-the-job experience to succeed at work and beyond.

The state is expected to gain 150,000 jobs by 2030 according to KCTCS’s first-of-its-kind Kentucky Education to Workforce (GIS) application. The latest projections indicate Healthcare and Social Assistance; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Transportation and Warehousing; Construction; and Manufacturing will increase by 2030 putting extra pressure on existing businesses to enhance employee satisfaction, productivity, and output. TRAINS will help meet these growing needs by providing employees with the much-needed skills and technical know-how to excel. By partnering with KCTCS and accessing TRIANS, companies will mitigate skills gap, increase retention and improve their bottom line.

Since its inception in 2014, TRAINS has invested $29,893,835 dollars in Kentucky business accounting for 72,965 enrollments. As a result of this program, Kentucky companies have invested $16,974,397 in upskilling their employees. KCTCS Workforce Solutions staff has worked directly with thousands of companies to design training programs that are tailored to meet each business’s specific needs in an economic, efficient and time sensitive manner. For more information, please visit kctcs.edu/workforce-solutions, or OCTC’s Workforce Solutions page at https://owensboro.kctcs.edu/workforce-solutions/.

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation and the Small Business Development Center are excited to announce that the Greater Owensboro Pitch Competition will occur on Thursday, May 5^th at noon. The competition will take place at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in the Woodward Theatre. If you would like to attend the GO Pitch Competition, you can register here. Lunch will be provided at 11:30 am.

GO Pitch is a “Shark Tank” style pitch competition that will feature five businesses from the Owensboro and Daviess County area pitching their best business ideas to Owensboro’s sharks. The sharks, or judges, are made up of Owensboro entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and investors. 

Below are the judges for the GO Pitch Competition.

Allison Ross is a native of Lewisport, KY and a proud 2002 graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College.  She began her finance career in long-term healthcare at Wells Health Systems as the General Accountant and later was promoted to Senior Accountant.  She held a brief stint as the Controller at Kentucky Wesleyan College before securing her MBA from Western Kentucky University in 2010.  Allison then moved on to the aluminum industry where she worked for nearly 9 years.  She held various roles of advancing responsibility at Century Aluminum, Southwire and later culminated as the Senior Finance Manager at Aleris overseeing the finances of a $500 million expansion at their Lewisport, KY campus.  In July 2019, Allison moved on to her current company Gryphon Environmental in Owensboro, KY where she was initially hired as the CFO.  A shift in leadership moved Allison into a Chief Operating Officer/Vice President role in April 2020 where she resides today.  Gryphon Environmental manufactures industrial dryers for a myriad of applications.  The patented, advanced drying technology of Gryphon Environmental can be found at Tyson in Robards, KY, in an egg farm in Loda, IL or in several wastewater treatment plants in the United States including Lenoir, NC, Endicott, NY and Chalfont, PA.  Allison and her husband Kyle live in Lewisport on her family farm with their 3 children, Izzy, Eli and Brayden.

David Oetken currently serves as the Center Director of the Louisville Small Business Development Center where he helps the community’s entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. He also teaches classes on entrepreneurship and financial management. Prior to joining the Louisville Small Business Development Center, he was the Managing Director of Business Advising Services at Greater Louisville Inc.’s EnterpriseCorp, where he helped second stage companies raise capital. He has extensive small business experience owning and operating businesses in hospitality, commercial real estate, professional sports, manufacturing, and distribution. Dave received his MBA from Bellarmine University, is a Certified Commercial Property Manager, Economic Development Finance Professional, Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor.

John Marshall Moore is an Owensboro native. As a fourth generation, multiple business owner, he believes that entrepreneurship is the key to continued success for our region. He is the current President/Managing Partner of the Moore Automotive Team, consisting of 14 franchises and almost 300 team members. He is the Fund Manager of Marshall Ventures, and early-stage venture fund with seven portfolio companies. He is the founder of CarJockey.com, the first company in the US to auction vehicles online and develop a dealer network of over 400 auto dealers. Moore is the founder/operator of Auto Business Consultants, a firm the audited over 200 auto dealerships building forecasts, financial plans, managed ongoing operations, and liquidations. He is the current owner of Legends, a retail store for active people. He is a current board member of the Commonwealth Seed Capital Fund, a state funded venture capital fund with over $40 million in total assets. He is a board member of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. John has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Centre College and a MBA from Indiana University. 

Aaron Kizer is a successful entrepreneur and world-renowned artist from Owensboro. He is the owner of Kizer Arts and Kizer Construction, and Creative Director of Green River Distillery.  He has worked with multiple well-known brands, including Aria in Las Vegas, Maker’s Mark, NASA, Jim Beam, the University of Kentucky, and Ritz Carlton, among others. His construction company is in high demand and continually works on new, unique projects. His work has taken him around the world, but he continues to give back to the Owensboro community. His work has taken him around the world, but he continues to give back to the Owensboro community.

Green River Distilling Company unveiled their Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey yesterday evening, marking their first self-branded bourbon in over a century.

Different events have been held this week to celebrate, including a special lighting of the Glover H. Cary Bridge on Wednesday followed by a firework show at McConnell Plaza. Mayor Tom Watson also declared Thursday as Green River Whiskey Day in Owensboro to honor the return of the 137-year-old company. Held on Thursday evening was a private event to act as the official unveiling of the new whiskey.

The celebration continues today with a “Bourbon, Bluegrass and BBQ” day, where limited amount of bottles will be available for purchase to the public. Customers can come and celebrate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and enjoy live music and samples of barbecue. Jacob Call, master distiller at Green River, will also be signing bottles until close.

Be sure to stop by Green River Distilling Company today to grab a bottle and help celebrate this tremendous launch!

Metalsa is one of Owensboro’s many amazing manufacturing companies. They are responsible for providing the automotive industry with metallic structures for heavy and light trucks. 

We are proud to have Metalsa as one of our existing business and are glad they call Owensboro home. Check out their story below to learn more about their history and what they have planned for the future.

Today, the City of Owensboro and Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, announced, Bell Bank’s investment in Owensboro, KY.

Bell Bank is a privately owned bank headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota. Bell Bank is the largest family-and employee-owned bank in the upper Midwest, and one of the largest privately owned banks in the nation. “We are thrilled to be welcoming another prominent bank, such as Bell Bank, into the city of Owensboro,” said Mayor Tom Watson.

Bell Bank began 50 years ago as State Bank of Fargo and now has assets of more than $9 billion. “We are excited to celebrate Bell Bank’s growth and expansion into the Owensboro market. We appreciate their investment in our community and can’t wait to watch them succeed,” said City Manager Nate Pagan.

“Happy employees, Happy customers” is Bell Bank’s bottom-line statement. Core values of family, unequaled service and giving back are at the heart of this bank. They have found that the key to providing client support is having a culture which puts their employees first, providing an engaging, high-performing, and fun environment, allows their employees to succeed.

Bell Bank’s team believes that mortgage lending is a business built on relationships, and even with remote work becoming a new reality, client interactions are still at the heart of its mortgage business model. GOEDC President & CEO Brittaney Johnson said, “We’re excited to welcome Bell Bank to Owensboro, Daviess County. We are grateful for the creation of new employment opportunities and the immediate positive economic impact on the Greater Owensboro region.”

The bank will be located at 234 Frederica Street, downtown Owensboro, KY. The company projects to hire 37 employees by year end 2022 and grow the workforce to 178 employees by 2026. Mayor Tom Watson added, “Public private partnerships provide continued success in bringing new investment to downtown Owensboro. Special thanks to the entire team at Gulfstream Commercial Services, who have worked tirelessly to facilitate this new investment and bring Bell Bank to our great community. They continue pushing forward and we appreciate their continued drive and investment across the entire region.”

For more information, contact the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, Brittaney Johnson (270) 926-4339 or bjohnson@owensboro.com

We have two offices available for rent in the Commerce Center! The 160 square foot space located on the 3rd floor of the Commerce Center has amenities such as internet/wi-fi connection, a copier, phone capabilities and a mailing address. The offices are also complimented by a lounge and conference room, as well as regular janitorial services. 

For more information, contact us at (270) 926-4339.