Business and Industry Mercer County is one of the best places in the country to do business. There are many benefits to setting up shop in Mercer County, including the lowest industrial power cost in the nation, the eighth-lowest overall business cost in the nation and a strong, well-educated workforce that is ready to make your business a success. The Harrodsburg Industrial Park is within the city limits of Harrodsburg. This translates into a plentiful local workforce and lower costs. Many companies have found the Park an economical choice when looking for a place to set up business. It has easy access to the Interstate and is only 14 miles south of the Bluegrass Parkway. Plentiful natural gas, electricity and water, as well as sewer lines, are accessible in the Industrial Park. The Gene C. Royalty Industrial Park has over 100 acres of available space to start or expand your business. The park, located in Harrodsburg, has rail access and is located close to highways and airports. It is an excellent place for industry to locate. All utilities are available at the site. Manufacturing provides the greatest number of jobs in Mercer County, with over 2,600 people earning a living in the industry. The wholesale and retail trade industries currently provide around 1,250 jobs in Mercer County, while 950 people are employed in service-based industries. Government, both local and state, employs almost 800 people, and the booming construction trade has over 300 contract jobs. The manufacturing industry continues to provide new jobs in the area. Since 2000, eight companies have expanded in the county, creating 131 new jobs with an investment of just over $66 million. One of the largest manufacturing businesses in Mercer County is Hitachi Automotive Products, USA. Hitachi came to Harrodsburg in 1985 and found it a great place to build their U.S. headquarters. The manufacturing plant began production in April 1986 and has since supplied clients with quality automotive components. Hitachi employs 820 people from the community in a variety of jobs. With 650 employees, Trim Masters, Inc. ranks as the second-largest employer in Mercer County. This manufacturer of automotive seat covers and trim incorporated in October 1987. The company has maintained a steady growth in income during the past decade, bringing additional jobs to the county. Two separate manufacturing plants are located in Mercer County. Opened in 1998, the first plant focuses on automotive seat covers. The favorable workforce and manufacturing conditions in Mercer County led Trim Masters to open another plant in 1992, which manufactures automotive seat covers and trim. Bay West Paper Corporation ranks as the third-largest manufacturing company in Mercer County. The distribution facility, located in Harrodsburg, produces and markets a complete line of paper towels, tissue, soaps, wipers and dispensing systems for the away-from-home market. Clients include office buildings, factories, healthcare facilities, hotels, airports and other high-traffic facilities. Corning, Inc. has been a part of Harrodsburg for over 50 years and is proud of the scientific advancements the plant has made in that time. Not only a manufacturing facility, the site in Harrodsburg is also a development site, working closely with Corning manufacturing facilities around the world. The Harrodsburg site is responsible for developing and making Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs); it was here that the advancement of LCD technology and the display industry took off. Home to 365 employees, Corning is proud to call Harrodsburg home. Bright’s Bottle Gas, located in Burgin, has been in the propane business for over 45 years. A family-owned and operated business, Bright’s services not only residential customers, but commercial and industrial accounts as well. Having experienced consistent growth over the years, Bright’s now serves 17 central Kentucky counties with a fleet of 20 trucks. The oldest family-owned newspaper in Kentucky is the paper Harrodsburg residents call their own: The Harrodsburg Herald. First published in 1884 and still going strong, this weekly paper has a circulation of about 6,300. The Herald has four full-time reporters and an on-staff editorial cartoonist. “We’re strictly a local paper,” says editor and publisher Bill Randolph, who is also one of the owners. “We’re also proud of the fact that the paper is printed on the premises.” Many other manufacturing companies also utilize the skilled workforce of Mercer County. You can find printing companies, asphalt paving companies, a limestone crushing facility and makers of environmental control dust equipment — just to name a few. The retail industry is very strong in Mercer County. Anything you need can be found within the county lines. For the sports enthusiast, there are sporting goods stores, full of all the equipment you’ll need to enjoy the great outdoors or to do a little indoor exercising. Whether you want to go fishing or hiking or enjoy archery, there is a store ready to meet your needs. Not only can you purchase your new or used car in Harrodsburg, but you can also repair the car you already own at one of many auto repair/parts stores. There are honest, friendly repair people for more than just your car, though. You can get your television fixed, your appliances in working order and your home repaired, all through local contractors. The thriving businesses in Mercer County can also keep their money safe in one of seven financial institutions. Both credit unions and traditional banks are available. Farmers National Bank have two branches in Harrodsburg. Community Trust Bank, Fifth Independence Bank, First Independence Bank, Kentucky Telco Federal Credit Union and Lawrenceburg National Bank each have one branch location in Harrodsburg. For your personal needs, there are many beauty salons, dry cleaners and clothing retailers. Childcare services are available through six different childcare centers, all of which are ready to give your little ones the individual care and attention they need. For state-of-the-art technology, visit one of the computer retailers located in the county. There is also a local Internet Service Provider to connect you to the Web. A general store, dollar store and Wal-Mart will keep the basic day-to-day household supplies in stock. Gift stores and specialty retailers are also available throughout the county. Grocery items can be found in one of many grocery stores and markets scattered around the county as well. Insurance agencies are plentiful to insure your life, home, health, auto and boat. Many national chains are represented in Mercer County. Various other businesses also exist in the county. Everything from locksmiths to translation services can be found close to home. Whatever you are looking for, you won’t have to look far in Mercer County!