Flex Films holds blessing and breaks ground

Gov. Steve Beshear sat cross legged on a white cushion for an hour in what may be the first bhoomi poojan ceremony held in Kentucky. He hopes it’s not the last, the governor said Friday at a celebration of the Flex Films (USA) Inc. investment in Elizabethtown.

Ben Sheroan

Pradeep Tyle, CEO of Flex Films, describes his expectations of success for the company's newest manufacturing plant, which is under development off Black Branch Road in Elizabethtown. A ceremony to celebrate the $180 million investment and 250 potential jobs was conducted Friday.

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Ben Sheroan

A crowd of well wishers watches the traditional Indian ground blessing ceremony conducted Friday as officials welcomed Flex Films (USA) to Elizabethtown. The international company based in New Dehli is making a $180 million investment in the plant off Black Branch Road.

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Sarah Bennett

For an hour Friday, Gov. Steve Beshear and Elizabethtown Mayor Tim Walker sat cross legged on white cushions with company officials and other community members for the Bhoomi Poojan, a ground blessing ceremony.

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Ben Sheroan

A Hindu priest, left, conducted a traditional ground blessing ceremony Friday at the site of the new Flex Films (USA) manufacturing plant on the west side of Elizabethtown. Participants included company officials and government leaders, including Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear.

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Ben Sheroan

Gov. Steve Beshear's welcoming remarks for Flex Films (USA) include descriptions of Kentucky's recruitment efforts in India. The New Dehli-based UFLEX Ltd. is investing $180 million in the two-phase construction project in Elizabethtown.

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Ben Sheroan

Sharing a few words after Friday's ceremonies to celebrate the Flex Films plant in Elizabethtown are, from left, Gov. Steve Beshear, Anantshree "Audi" Chaturavedi, director of Flex Films, and state Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes.

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Ben Sheroan

An artist's depection of the new Flex Films (USA) plant in Elizabethtown rests outside a tent that housed Friday's ground blessing ceremony.

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The traditional Indian ground blessing ceremony was conducted in a pit prepared at the site of the new manufacturing facility in the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park off Black Branch Road.

Because of the cool, wet weather, activities were held underneath a white tent at the construction site. For more than an hour, guests observed the traditional Indian blessing through a haze created by burning incense and a ceremonial fire. A handful of participants, including Beshear and Elizabethtown Mayor Tim Walker, sat cross legged and shoeless on cushions while a priest chanted Hindu prayers.

At the end of the ground blessing, participants shoveled the newly blessed earth into a hole in the center of the pit.

“This is a real milestone for us in the Elizabethtown/Hardin County community,” former state Sen. Joe Prather said after the blessing concluded and officials gathered on stage.

The new Flex Films facility in Elizabethtown will be completed in two phases, with the first phase expected to be finished late next year.

Walker said together the two phases mark a $180 million investment and 250 new jobs for Hardin County workers, providing the area, and especially Elizabethtown, with the opportunity for economic expansion.

“It’s a win-win situation for both of us, Flex Films and Elizabethtown,” he said.

Flex Films is an environmentally clean company with strong business values and hard work ethic, Walker said.

The 250 jobs represent 250 Kentucky families who will be better equipped to face the economic climate, Beshear said.

“There is no doubt Kentucky is open for business,” the governor said Friday.

Audi Chaturavedi, director of Flex Films, when asked why the company chose to build its new manufacturing plant in Kentucky, offers a list of reasons but always ends by citing Kentuckians’ commitment and hospitality.

“It is the people of Kentucky who brought us to Kentucky,” he said.

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.