Up and running at 2230 Pembroke Road in Hopkinsville, EZ-Access held its grand opening and ribbon cutting for the local dignitaries and the public on Tuesday afternoon — in what will end up being nearly 100 well-paying jobs for Christian County and its surrounding burghs.
Don Everard, chief executive officer of EZ Access and governor of its distribution company Kindred Holdings LLC, noted Christian County was a perfect location for his family’s company for a number of reasons — perhaps none more important than its small-town, faith-based feel — but business factors obviously played a part.
A division of Homecare Products, EZ-Access was formed by Don’s mother, Glenda, and his sister Deanne Sandvold in 1984. Everard joined in 1988, and from there the company helped pioneer several patents for portable wheelchair ramps and other implements — including modular ramps, patient transfer and vertical platform lifts, and multi-story custom stair systems for residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Today, the company now serves those with disabilities and access needs all over the world, and also has production/distribution locations in both Algona, Washington and Morganfield — and with two locations in Kentucky, the company’s workforce will be greatly shaped by the region.
Everard specifically noted that this location, which most recently served as an old tobacco warehouse, was exactly what the company was looking for — after originally declining the spec-building site that, in 2020, was still being drafted by the South Western Kentucky EDC.
Already equipped with some key people on staff, Everard noted salary and hourly positions — from shift leaders, to tool-and-die makers, to welders — will pay from $15 to $22 an hour, and that the long-range plan is to have more than 200 total Kentucky employees between the Hopkinsville and Morganfield locations by the time this Christian County location is fully operational.
With the Hopkinsville City Council having already approved business incentives for EZ-Access, Mayor Wendell Lynch presented Everard with a check detailing the relief, and added the project was a collaborative effort between the EDC, the county, the city and incoming facility officials.
As a continued show of good faith to the region, Everard closed the presentation with a $5,000 check to the United Way of the Pennyrile — in what annually is a successful drive for local non-profit organizations.
