FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- The Kentucky Tourism Development Authority has approved tax refunds to help Jim Beam pay for improvements at its Clermont distillery.
Jim Beam plans to spend $15 million at the distillery to build a new entrance road, expand the visitor center and gift shop and construct an interpretive center. The state tax refunds will amount to about $1.2 million over 10 years.
Kentucky Tourism Secretary Marcheta Sparrow said the investment will bring more tourists to the state, particularly to the bourbon-making region of central Kentucky. Some 80,000 tourists visit the Jim Beam Distillery each year.
The distillery's engineer, Jim Beam Noe, said the construction is expected to be completed in 2012.
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