Plastic packaging company picks Ky. for expansion

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -- A plastic packaging company says it plans to open manufacturing operations in Bowling Green, Ky., creating 72 full-time jobs.

Austria-based Alpla Inc. intends to invest $22.4 million in its expansion to south-central Kentucky. The company produces packaging for beverages, motor oils, cleaning supplies and more.

Gov. Steve Beshear said Tuesday the company may not be a household name, but its products are in nearly every Kentucky home.

As part of the project, the company received preliminary approval for tax incentives up to $1.9 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The incentive allows companies to keep part of their investment through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

Alpla has grown into a global company with about 13,000 employees at 148 sites in 39 countries.