FULTON, Ky. (March 4, 2013) – Governor Steve Beshear today joined local and company officials to announce that MVP Group International Inc. plans to establish a manufacturing operation in Fulton, creating 150 new, full-time jobs and investing more than $5.2 million in the Commonwealth.

“We welcome MVP Group International to Fulton and look forward to many years of growth and success here,” Gov. Beshear said. “The numbers are impressive, with 150 jobs and $5.2 million in investment, but we’re not here just for the numbers; we are here because of the lives that will benefit from this partnership and the impact it will have on the future of this community.”

MVP Group International is the largest manufacturer of private label candles and home fragrance goods worldwide, with sales to national and international retailers. The company will occupy an existing 60,000- square-foot facility on Kentucky Avenue in Fulton.

“MVP is excited to continue strengthening our roots in western Kentucky and now in Fulton,” said Travis Propes, MVP Group International’s chief merchandising officer and owner. “Our growth will continue to be dependent on our employees and our customer’s satisfaction. We wish to thank the Commonwealth of Kentucky, local officials, TVA, and Eddie Crittendon, executive director of the Fulton County and Hickman County Economic Development Partnership, for all of their efforts with this project.”

To encourage the investment and job creation in Fulton, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $2 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

“We welcome MVP as our area diversifies our manufacturing base, and I look forward to working with a great community partner in the years ahead,” said Sen. Stan Humphries, of Cadiz.

“Today’s announcement represents a tremendous boost in the economy of Fulton and the surrounding region,” said Rep. Steven Rudy, of West Paducah. “I welcome MVP Group International to the Commonwealth and applaud their investment and the jobs it will create.”

“On behalf of myself and the board of commissioners, I would like personally to thank MVP for choosing the city of Fulton for this new expansion,” said Fulton Mayor Elaine Forrester. “We are proud to have them locating here and we are excited to be a part of their future growth. The city of Fulton is a very industry- friendly community, and we are proud to have them as the newest member of our industrial family. On behalf of the city of Fulton I would like to thank Gov. Beshear, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Cabinet for Economic Development for working alongside our two-county economic development director, Eddie Crittendon, to help bring these much-needed jobs to Fulton.”

“I would like to thank MVP for choosing to locate this new expansion in Fulton County,” said Fulton County Judge-Executive David Gallagher. “We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship. I wish to thank Gov. Beshear, the Cabinet for Economic Development and Tennessee Valley Authority for putting together an incentive package to help make this project happen. I want to also commend our ED director Eddie Crittendon for his hard work and dedication in bringing industry and jobs to our area. Most of all and foremost we thank God for blessing Fulton County with much-needed jobs.”

“TVA and Fulton Electric System are privileged to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Fulton County and Hickman County Economic Development Partnership to facilitate MVP Group International’s decision to locate and bring new jobs to Fulton,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley.

For more information on MVP Group International, visit www.mvpgroupint.com .

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky.

A detailed community profile for Fulton (Fulton County) can be viewed at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=018.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2012 totaled nearly $2.7 billion with the creation of more than 14,000 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training,incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.