Kentucky just got a big new tech deal. The Bluegrass State has been selected as the manufacturing site for all future iPhone and Apple Watch glass coverings. Apple has made a $2.5 billion investment to bring that manufacturing to the Corning facility in Harrodsburg.
The announcement marks the first time all of the glass on iPhones and Apple Watches will be made in the U.S.
Governor Andy Beshear touted the deal Thursday in his weekly press briefing.
“I want to personally congratulate everybody in Harrodsburg and Mercer County and the surrounding region who will benefit from the continued growth of this longstanding Kentucky company,” he said.
Beshear stated that the deal turned out better than expected.
“Our team at the Cabinet for Economic Development has been working with Corning over the past few months, though I think the project grew significantly and we're grateful for that,” he said.
Beshear said Corning currently employs more than 400 people and has been in business for more than 70 years.
The governor said the state will further discuss the increase in jobs from the announcement once more information is available from Apple.
Republican Congressman Andy Barr said on Fox News that this was an example of the Trump Administration's tariff policy bringing jobs to the United States.
The GOP lawmaker said there is a provision in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that states that when companies like Apple expand plants like that and if Corning works with Apple on bringing these jobs to Kentucky, they will see a big tax cut.
The Harrodsburg facility currently makes a type of glass for Apple called the “Ceramic Shield.”
According to officials, this is the first time all glass manufacturing for iPhones and Apple Watches will happen domestically.
