Melissa Reinert

mstewart@communitypress.com

ERLANGER – Workforce reduction began Jan. 3 for Toyota’s headquarters in Erlanger and will continue through the end of 2018.

In April 2014, Toyota announced that it would close its Erlanger facility and relocate workers to Texas, Michigan or its manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Kentucky.

By the time the Erlanger facility is closed, Toyota will have moved about 1,600 jobs out of Northern Kentucky as part of a nationwide consolidation of the company’s operations.

The company has been an active participant in philanthropy in Kentucky and it is also one of the biggest taxpayers in the city of Erlanger.

According to Erlanger City Administrator Marc Fields, although the city is sad to see Toyota leave, it has been preparing for this moment since the announcement.

“We have been fortunate that several new businesses have come to Erlanger since the announcement or are on the move here,” he said. “We have seen the recent opening of Sterling Cut Glass, Griffin Elite Training Center, McD Concrete, ADM Technology Center, the expansion of Signature Hardware, St. Elizabeth Health Care Human Resources employees moved to the city and other smaller businesses have opened in the past two years.”

Underway is the Sun Behavioral Hospital with an expected opening in the fall of 2017 along with the proposed Showcase Cinema property development expected to break ground by the end of 2017.

“The future looks bright however we will continue to recruit businesses and promote the city to prospects,” Fields said.

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