Louisville is fast becoming the nation's magnet for companies catering to old people.
Today's announcement by Signature Healthcare that it is moving its operations from Florida to Louisville, including 120 high-paying jobs, is big news. CEO Joe Steier, as well as John Reinhart, who will head up a partnership with the University of Louisville, are bringing the HQ to their hometown. Both are St. Xavier High School grads.
It joins other Louisville operations focused on care for the aging, including Kindred Healthcare, Almost Family, Atria, ResCare and Trilogy. According to the city, companies focused on aging care based in Louisville have $14 billion in annual revenues and 4,000 employees.
Mayor's spokesman Chris Poynter compared the industry to the logistics industry which has found a home here thanks to our city's central location in the U.S.
The company has acquired the former Sears call center building in the Bluegrass Research & Industrial Park, just across the street from the Papa John's headquarters building in Jeffersontown.
That's good news for the government of Jeffersontown, which collects a 1 percent occupational tax on employees who work there. Considering the company is promising to bring 120 jobs at an average of $75,000 each, that's a $9 million payroll. And the 1% tax will bring $90,000 to the city, which is experiencing some dramatic financial problems.
"Old people." Does that include the wave of "maturing" Baby Boomers? Does that also include what is probably the largest block of registered citizens who actually vote on election day? Lucky to have all this geriatric expertise in our city which should CELEBRATE "old people" as an industry that provides work & stability - as well as an example - for the younger generations.
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Louisville is fast becoming the nation's magnet for companies catering to old people.
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Rick Redding