Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Oct. 12 celebrated an estimated $17 million investment in Floyd County by R/S-Godwin Truck Body Co. The fourth-generation family-owned trucking equipment manufacturer is expanding its operations for future growth and creating 65 new full-time jobs in Eastern Kentucky.

“Our state was built on small, family-owned businesses choosing to reinvest and grow here, and I want to thank the leadership of R/S-Godwin Truck Body Co. for their commitment to our commonwealth and our people,” said Beshear. “I am excited to see their continued success in the years to come.” 

To enable growth and allow for increased productive output, R/S-Godwin is planning an expansion of land, buildings and machinery. This type of manufacturing expansion will create skilled labor jobs for the following skillsets: welding, fabrication, CNC plasma, CNC pressbrakes, material handling and others.

The company is also in the initial phase of procuring the adjacent 7-plus acres that will allow for the future growth of its manufacturing capacity, according to the governor’s office statement.

“The Godwin Group is proud to be partnered with the state of Kentucky, Floyd County and surrounding areas to help R/S-Godwin continue to grow,” said Ryan Taylor, CEO of R/S-Godwin Truck Body Co. “We are proud that this will also see those citizens of this area prosper as well.”

R/S-Godwin Truck Body Co. is part of the Godwin Group of companies, one of the nation’s largest family-owned trucking equipment manufacturers. R/S-Godwin began in 1968 as a small local job shop catering to the Eastern Kentucky coal industry with a marketing range of only a couple hundred miles. The main product focus was on highway use trucks, but the company occasionally built equipment for off highway use when local demand called for it. In 1977, R/S-Godwin diversified into other dump body markets.

In 2002, R/S-Godwin was purchased by the Godwin Group out of North Carolina. This move further solidified the company’s presence in the truck equipment market. Product demand became so high that the decision was made to remove trailers from R/S-Godwin’s offerings to better focus on dump body production. And recently, the company expanded to 165,000 square feet to accommodate a new state-of-the-art powder coat paint and primer facility.

Floyd County Judge/Executive Robbie Williams thanked the company for reaffirming its commitment to the area.

“Thanks to R/S-Godwin Truck Body Co. for choosing to continue to invest in Floyd County. Our county is a great place to grow a business, from mom-and-pop shops to manufacturing,” Williams said. “I would also like to thank the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, One East Kentucky and Kentucky Power for their work in supporting this project.”

R/S-Godwin’s investment and job creation furthers what has been the best six-year period for economic growth in state history, the governor’s office noted.

“The $17 million investment is creating 65 great-paying jobs for the people of Floyd County and the surrounding area,” Eric Ratliff, executive director of Big Sandy Area Development District, said. “With the continued growth and success of R/S-Godwin, the future of Floyd County is looking great. Congratulations to Floyd County Judge/Executive Robbie Williams, Floyd County Fiscal Court, R/S-Godwin and others for making this expansion possible.”