Pendleton County
Economic Development
FALMOUTH — The Pendleton County Fiscal Court and Economic Development office, with state and local leaders, has spearheaded a collaborative effort to address the pending closure of Hammer Strength/Life Fitness, a Falmouth-based sports equipment manufacturer.
The closure of the facility, set to affect around 100 employees, is part of a larger consolidation move to the Hammer Strength/Life Fitness facilities in Minnesota, culminating in an estimated complete shutdown in early 2025.
The closure of the Falmouth facility signifies the end of a 35-year legacy in the local community.
A multi-stakeholder team comprising state and local officials, educational institutions, and community groups has devised a holistic “Rapid Response” plan to support impacted workers.
This initiative includes a spectrum of services such as unemployment aid, retraining programs, certifications, and counseling to facilitate smooth workforce transitions.
In an effort to bring new jobs to the community, this multifaceted approach to support Hammer Strength and its employees came as the result of an extensive meeting with local community leaders, various agencies, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Jeff Noel with his team and officials from the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.
Everyone unanimously acknowledged the importance of working collaboratively and aggressively to market the building, highlight the strengths of the community and emphasize the power and benefits of a talented and dedicated workforce.
“This is an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach to supporting those affected by Hammer Strength’s departure,” said Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria.
“Our rallying cry has always been to take care of the hard-working people impacted in very real and tangible ways, and this group of community leaders is fully committed to doing just that.”
Kentucky House Representative, Mark Hart, a Pendleton County native and resident, said, “We want to provide every state resource that we have available to help the Hammer Strength employees find other career opportunities and gainful employment.
“In addition, we want to explore all available options to fill this void and bring new business to Falmouth and Pendleton County.”
Over the coming months, the Rapid Response team will partner with Hammer Strength management to organize a local job fair, offering comprehensive resources such as resume writing assistance, skills training, certifications and access to potential employment opportunities through connections with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and the Northern Kentucky Career Center.
The Pendleton County Public Library, Pendleton County Schools, KCTCS and the Northern Kentucky Career Center are joining forces to provide job connections. Leveraging their extensive employer network, KCTCS and the Career Center will host a reverse career and resource job fair at the end of October.
The upcoming job fair will bring together a variety of employers and career resources to assist Hammer Strength employees in exploring new opportunities.
Representatives from KCTCS, Northern Kentucky Career Center, and potential employers will be present at the fair to engage in discussions and offer insight into future career prospects.
A second job fair is slated for early 2025, with more details to be announced. This ongoing collaborative effort aims to provide ongoing support and resources to aid Hammer Strength employees in their career transitions.
David Fields, judge executive for Pendleton County, emphasized the county’s dedication to provide all necessary services and resources to aid employees in transitioning to new jobs.
“We value the commitment that the Hammer Strength employees have made to Pendleton County — some with more than 30 years of employment,” Fields said.
“It is our top priority to bring to them all the available services and resources needed to help them transition into new jobs.”
The Pendleton County Economic Development office is collaborating with Hammer Strength and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to explore opportunities for promoting the 15-acre property and its building to prospective employers.
Tami Vater, the Economic Development director for the Pendleton County Fiscal Court, affirmed the community’s dedication to actively recruit new industry and potential employers, highlighting the area’s skilled workforce capabilities to attract new businesses.
The collaborative effort aims to facilitate a seamless transition for the workforce and the community, focusing on attracting new employers while providing essential support to employees.