GLENDALE, Ky. — Construction at the site of massive twin electric battery plants in Hardin County continues to make strides.
And the hiring process is moving forward, too, now with 700 future employees brought on board as of late April, officials say.
The first of two manufacturing facilities run by BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and SK On, is on schedule to open in 2025, though external communications manager Mallory Cooke didn't specify what quarter.
"This is a big year for us in terms of hiring," Cooke told WHAS11 on Monday. "We have thousands of applicants."
The nearly $6 billion investment from Ford came in 2021, as they aim to produce thousands of electric batteries to power their EV future.
BlueOval SK officials say they plan to have a total of 2,500 employees by the launch of the first plant, known as Kentucky 1.
On Monday, WHAS11 learned on-site training is expected to begin in 'early June.'
In a statement, a spokesperson with Elizabethtown Community and Technical College said, "Construction on the ECTC BOSK Training Center is wrapping up and the college is looking forward to hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony soon."
ECTC is helping to run the training program.
Also this month, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined state transportation officials and local leaders to cut the ribbon on a I-65, Kentucky Highway 222 interchange project near Glendale that's nearly complete.
Officials say the new interchange, years in the making, will allow safer and easier access for both BlueOval SK workers and regular drivers alike.
State Sen. Matt Deneen of Elizabethtown called these state investments in infrastructure "critical."
He also addressed the elephant in the room -- that some living in Glendale are still wary of the development.
"This interchange at I-65 will keep the majority of that traffic away from that historic downtown area, and it will preserve that area for generations to come," Deneen said.
The second BlueOval SK plant in Hardin County, originally set to open in 2026, was put on hold in late 2023.
Ford's CEO cited demand not quite reaching the levels they projected.
WHAS11 asked Cooke about this reality.
"The demand for EVs is increasing, just not at the rate previously forecast," she said. "We anticipate the demand to continue to grow."
BlueOval SK officials say they're taking job applications right now, and they caution that if you apply -- be patient. Because of the volume, they say it could take a couple weeks to receive a response.
If you're interested in applying, click here.
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