Conner Logistics Inc.’s $1.3 million starting investment will create 20 full-time jobs
As a testament to the power of modern marketing tools for sharing a community’s story and success, a California logistics company has chosen to relocate its headquarters to Somerset and Pulaski County after finding the community on the Internet.
Members of the Conner family, who own and operate Conner Logistics Inc. (CLI), discovered Somerset and Pulaski County while searching for locations that would better position them to serve customers in the eastern United States and enhance partnerships with major/national logistics providers.
It was through that search they discovered the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) and the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, watching videos and reading stories about the community’s economic development resurgence and unmatched quality of life. Soon after, the family visited the community and met with leaders of both organizations, beginning a relationship that has led to today’s announcement that CLI will establish its new corporate headquarters in Somerset.
“Conner Logistics is very excited to announce the relocation of our corporate headquarters to Somerset, Kentucky,” said Sean Conner, CEO of CLI. “It is our hope that through a partnership with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and our collaboration with the local leaders in Somerset, Conner Logistics, Inc. can serve the economy and citizens of Kentucky through employment opportunities, community involvement, and operational excellence.”
Community involvement has been a top priority since that first meeting, SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said. CLI’s leaders took what they learned online and in-person to heart, quickly making themselves a part of the community.
“It has been a joy getting to know the Conner Logistics family, and we welcome them from California with open arms to Somerset and Pulaski County to establish their new corporate headquarters,” Girdler said. “The Commonwealth of Kentucky presents a wealth of opportunity for those looking to relocate, and here in the Capital of Lake Cumberland we are seeing unprecedented growth and success. It is an exciting time and the Conners have already been very engaged in our community and the great values of which they operate their company are evident.”
Founded in 2002, CLI provides a range of services as a third-party logistics provider, including fulfillment and warehousing, line haul and transportation and same-day courier services. The company has six facilities in California with additional locations in Arizona and Nevada, where they will maintain existing operations. The location of its Somerset-Pulaski County headquarters has yet to be determined.
Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley looks forward to building a strong relationship with the region’s newest employer.
“It is exciting to see strong, growing companies choose Pulaski County as their corporate headquarters,” Kelley said. “We boast a good record of growth among our local industries, and I look forward to working alongside the Conners to help them continue to prosper here in Pulaski County.”
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said the project speaks to a broader effort to position the community for economic growth.
“We are humbled the Conner Logistics family chose Somerset not only for the company’s headquarters but also as their personal home,” Keck said. “It’s evident they did so because of the exceptional change we’re seeing here, change that wouldn’t have been possible without the collaborative effort of our team in the last two-and-a-half years to make Somerset a place people truly want to live and work. The Conners have built an incredible, thriving business and I look forward to partnering with them as we continue our work to build a thriving community.”
CLI worked with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority to receive a performance-based 15-year, $400,000 tax incentive agreement under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The company will also receive recruitment and job placement resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.
Its $1.3 million investment in Somerset-Pulaski County is just the beginning for CLI, as the company has a broader goal to match the size of its western U.S. operations here in Kentucky. Girdler said the Conner family’s desire to grow and thrive creates a beautiful synergy with SPEDA’s desire to do the same.
“One of SPEDA’s core values is to be a growth-oriented organization,” Girdler said. “We aspire to grow wisely and be modest in that growth, embracing an appropriate and effective growth strategy for Somerset-Pulaski County that makes it the best place to live, work and play in the United States. We are thrilled the Conner Logistics family is joining us in this effort. In our own separate ways, both organizations are just getting started — but together we’re going to achieve incredible success.”
