Another big industrial job in Northern Kentucky has crossed the finish line. Niagara Bottling celebrated the grand opening of its new $141 million production facility in Elsmere on Thursday, the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported.
The plant is the California-based beverage maker's first facility in Kentucky.
From announcement to opening
The project was first announced in September 2024, and construction started in early 2025 at the C5 Airport East Logistics Center, according to the Tribune. That puts the build at under two years from start to ribbon-cutting for a building of this size.
The 52-acre site was developed by CORE5 Industrial Partners with support from state and local officials. The finished facility includes more than 436,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing space for beverage production and distribution. Niagara says the plant will create 60 new jobs.
Public money for power lines
The Tribune reports that in 2022, the General Assembly and the Beshear administration approved a $13 million site development and acquisition fund for Kenton County. Of that, $669,000 went to this project to install power transmission lines.
Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann said the county's infrastructure work was key to making the expansion possible. "Niagara Bottling is exactly the kind of investment we envisioned, bringing quality jobs and a long-term commitment to Kenton County," he said.
Who is Niagara?
Headquartered in Diamond Bar, California, Niagara Bottling is a family-owned company founded in 1963. Andrew Peykoff Sr. started the business bottling water in five-gallon glass containers for home and office delivery. Today it is a large beverage manufacturer that makes bottled water, sparkling, vitamin and flavored water, sports drinks, ready-to-drink tea and coffee, and protein drinks, working with major brands, retailers, grocers, club and convenience stores, the Tribune reports.
"At Niagara, we invest with the long-term in mind, and this new facility reflects our confidence in Northern Kentucky and its future," said Brian Hess, the company's executive vice president.
Elsmere Mayor Marty Lenhof said Niagara's decision to put its first Kentucky facility in the city "brings quality jobs, significant investment and new opportunities to Elsmere."
Bigger than first announced
According to a news release from Gov. Andy Beshear's office, the final investment came in more than $11 million above the amount originally announced in September 2024.
The state also approved incentives. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved a performance-based agreement under the Kentucky Business Investment program in June 2024, tied to the company's investment and annual job targets. It also approved Niagara for the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act, which lets approved companies recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures and certain equipment, the release said.
Lee Crume, president and CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership, pointed to the region's water resources, workforce and central location as draws for food and beverage manufacturers. He also noted the plant has already operated through its busy season.
The Tribune's report did not name the general contractor or major subcontractors on the job, and it did not say whether Niagara has plans for future expansion at the site.
Why it matters for contractors
Food and beverage plants are among the more demanding industrial buildings to put up. A 436,000-square-foot bottling facility needs heavy slabs for production lines, extensive process piping, large electrical services, refrigeration and HVAC, sanitary finishes in production areas, and dock and warehouse space for distribution. That mix keeps concrete, steel, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and process contractors busy for a long stretch.
With the building now open, the construction phase is wrapping up, but plants like this tend to generate follow-on work: equipment installs, line changes, maintenance contracts and, in many cases, later expansions. Contractors in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky market should keep a relationship with the owner's facilities team.
The project also shows how the Northern Kentucky industrial market is moving. A developer prepared a big site, the state and county paid for power lines, and a manufacturer moved in. Contractors who build those speculative and build-to-suit industrial buildings should keep watching CORE5 and other developers around the airport for the next one.