A veteran-owned packaging company announced Thursday it will invest $23.4 million to relocate its operations to Bowling Green, bringing 82 jobs to the Kentucky city as the flexible packaging industry experiences growth nationwide.
ValorFlex Packaging of Kentucky, Inc. will establish an advanced manufacturing facility specializing in lamination, flexographic printing, and custom pouching, marking what company President and CEO Thomas Hazlette called "more than an expansion—it's a homecoming".
The investment represents the third economic development project announced this year by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, contributing to a total of $39.4 million in capital investment and 122 new jobs across South Central Kentucky1.
Governor Andy Beshear praised the relocation as evidence of Kentucky's business-friendly environment. "As companies from coast-to-coast look to expand and relocate businesses, many are quickly realizing the commonwealth checks every box," Beshear said12.
The announcement comes as Bowling Green maintains its position as the top-ranked Tier 2 metropolitan area in the United States for 2024 and 2023, according to Site Selection Magazine1. Warren County Judge/Executive Doug Gorman called ValorFlex "exactly the kind of forward-thinking, values-driven company we want to see grow here"12.
ValorFlex's relocation coincides with broader growth in the flexible packaging sector, which market research shows is valued at $314.54 billion globally in 2025 and expected to reach $457.85 billion by 20321. The food and beverage industry drives much of this demand, accounting for 37% of the market1.
The company serves national clients across food, pet food, tobacco, and health and beauty industries2. Founded and led by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Hazlette, ValorFlex operates as a subsidiary of ValorFlex Holdings, currently based in Nashville2.
The Bowling Green facility will serve as ValorFlex's operational hub following the company's March acquisition of Jet Packaging Group, which expanded its capabilities in flexographic printing and lamination12. Eric Teeter, co-founder of Jet Packaging Group, said the partnership allows both companies to "scale our impact and continue delivering high-quality solutions"12.
Ron Bunch, president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, described ValorFlex as "a fantastic addition to further diversify our region's thriving manufacturing sector"34. The exact location of the new facility has not been disclosed4.
"We chose Bowling Green because it embodies the values we believe in—a dedication to people, a focus on workforce, and a strong community," Hazlette said34.
