SEN. BLEDSOE CELEBRATES APPLE-CORNING EXPANSION
AS SEED OF GROWTH FOR KENTUCKY’S TECH FUTURE
New $2.5B investment brings iPhone and Apple Watch glass production to Harrodsburg, grows jobs, and strengthens Kentucky’s place in the global supply chain
FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 6, 2025) — The following is a statement from Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, regarding Apple’s announcement of a $2.5 billion investment to expand Corning’s manufacturing operations in Harrodsburg. The project will bring all iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass production to the commonwealth, strengthening Kentucky’s leadership in high-tech manufacturing and delivering a major economic boost across the region.
“Today’s announcement is a major win for Kentucky and a proud moment for Harrodsburg. I’ve toured Corning’s facility and saw firsthand the incredible work happening there, and this $2.5 billion investment builds on that foundation in a truly transformative way. It’s powerful proof that world-class innovation thrives right here in the heart of the Bluegrass, and it brings us one step closer to realizing Kentucky’s full potential.
“Make no mistake: this is about far more than making glass. It’s a seed of growth toward a future where Kentucky leads on the world stage. With Apple and Corning deepening their Kentucky roots, our workers and communities are becoming a core part of a thriving ecosystem of innovation and opportunity. At the center of this announcement is a belief in Kentucky’s place as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and technology.
“Just like the products this facility will help create, Kentucky is proving it can be both durable and cutting-edge. I’ll continue doing everything I can to keep the commonwealth a fertile ground for bold ideas and meaningful investment."
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BACKGROUND
Corning’s Harrodsburg facility has played a key role in Apple’s supply chain since the launch of the first iPhone. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the company’s latest expansion will make the site the world’s largest and most advanced smartphone glass production line, dedicated entirely to Apple products. As part of the investment, Apple and Corning will also open an innovation center in Harrodsburg to support research into advanced materials and future manufacturing techniques.
The project is expected to grow the facility’s workforce by 50 percent and drive significant economic activity throughout the region. It’s part of Apple’s broader $600 billion American Manufacturing Program, which echoes the national trend of reshoring key supply chains and investing in domestic production. For Kentucky, this announcement deepens a long-standing partnership that combines global innovation with the local workforce, further solidifying the commonwealth’s role as a growing hub for high-tech manufacturing.
Sen. Bledsoe represents Kentucky’s 12th Senate District, which includes the eastern portion of Fayette County.
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Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, represents the 12th Senate District, which includes Boyle, Mercer, and Woodford Counties and part of Fayette County. She is vice chair of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue and Families and Children Committees. She is co-chair of the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity.
During the interim, Bledsoe serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Appropriations and Revenue; Families and Children; Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations; Local Government; and State Government. As Senate budget vice chair, she holds ex officio roles on multiple budget review subcommittees. Additionally, she is a member of the Tobacco Settlement agreement Fund Oversight Committee.
Bledsoe co-chairs the AI Task Force, which was reestablished for the 2025 Interim. In 2024, Bledsoe co-chaired the task force, the work of which led to the passage of Senate Bill 4 during the 2025 Legislative Session. The measure established Kentucky’s first set of responsible guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in state agencies.
Visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate112.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Bledsoe.