Elizabeth McCoy speaks while Gov. Beshear (to her right) looks on.

Governor Steve Beshear was in Hopkinsville this afternoon to announce the expansion of a current industry, though it will not immediately create new jobs.

Plymouth Tube Company is investing 12.1 million dollars into its 130,000 square foot Hopkinsville plant, allowing it to meet customer demand and retain its existing 93 employees.

Governor Beshear said maintaining current job creating industries is crucial to helping Kentucky make it through these tough economic times.

The Governor praised Plymouth Tube president Donald Van Pelt for sticking with Hopkinsville and western Kentucky.             

Van Pelt thanked the Governor and State Representatives John Tilley and Myron Dossett for economic incentives provided by the state, saying the expansion would have not been possible without them.

Plymouth Tube makes several different types of parts for the aerospace, defense, energy and commercial sectors and has been in Hopkinsville since 1980.

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12/05/2011/am