♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU TO THE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS FOR GE APPLIANCES...

RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> NOW FIX ANY SIZE TOAST ON ORDER.

THICK OR THIN, LONG OR SHORT.

EVEN ODD SHAPES.

IN THE GENERAL ELECTRIC TOASTER OVEN.

THAT TOASTS BOTH SIDES AT ONCE, EVENLY, PERFECTLY AND DELIVERS THE TOAST RIGHT INTO YOUR HAND AUTOMATICALLY.

>> FROM THE VERY FIRST TOASTER OVEN, TO THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED ALL IN ONE G.E.

PROFILE COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER, I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW MANY OF THE APPLIANCES YOU USE EVERY DAY ARE NOT ONLY MANUFACTURED RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE...

THE INNOVATIVE IDEAS ARE CREATED HERE TOO.

TODAY MORE THAN 7000 PEOPLE WORK IN HIGH-TECH LABS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING FACILITIES AT GE APPLIANCE PARK.

THE MASSIVE CAMPUS HAS ITS OWN MOVIE THEATER, DOCTORS OFFICES, RAILROAD...

EVEN ITS OWN ZIP CODE.

AND IT HAS CALLED LOUISVILLE HOME FOR THE PAST 70 YEARS.

>> EMPLOYEE NUMBER 4.

>> BERNIE ROSENTHAL WAS THE FOURTH PERSON EVER HIRED AT G.E.

APPLIANCE PARK.

THE YEAR WAS 1950, WHEN THE COMPANY CREATED BY THOMAS EDISON PURCHASED 900 ACRES OF FARMLAND TO CREATE G.E.

APPLIANCE PARK.

A REVOLUTIONARY MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> LOUISVILLE, AT THAT TIME, JUST HAD THE TOBACCO PEOPLE HERE , BROWN AND WILLIAMSON, BUT WHEN THE NEWS THAT G.E.

WAS COMING TO THIS VAST FARMLAND IN THE RURAL PART OF THE COUNTY, EVERYBODY WAS DELIGHTED.

THEY COULD TELL THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THEY COULD TELL THE NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES.

THE NUMBER OF G.E.

PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE MOVING IN HERE PERHAPS FROM BRIDGEPORT OR FROM SCRANTON, OHIO.

AND IT WAS BIG NEWS, REALLY BIG NEWS.

>> THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE FIRST MANUFACTURING PLANT, BUILDING 1, HAPPENED IN JULY OF 1951.

IT WOULD TAKE TWO YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST PRODUCT, A DRYER, WAS SHIPPED.

SINCE THEN, SOME OF GESM'S G.E.

'S INNOVATE VAITIVE APPLIANCES HAVE BEEN BUILT RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE, THE FIRST PORTABLE DISHWASHER, THE FIRST TOASTER OVEN AND NOT TO MENTION THEY'RE CREDITED WITH FIRST MAKING APPLIANCES FASHIONABLE FROM MID CENTURY INTO THE 21st CENTURY.

TODAY, G.E.

APPLIANCES EMPLOYS MORE THAN 7,000 PEOPLE.

THE APPLIANCES MADE HERE ARE IN MORE THAN HALF OF ALL U.S. HOMES AND IN MANY CASES, IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> MY GRANDFATHER STARTED WORKING HERE IN 1956.

I THINK HE RETIRED SOMETIME IN THE EARLY 80s.

SEVEN OF HIS CHILDREN HAD THE MAJORITY OF THEIR CAREERS HERE AS WELL.

MY FATHER RETIRED AFTER 38 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY.

MY BIEF AND I BOTH WORK HERE.

WE'RE BOTH-- MY WIFE AND I BOTH WORK HERE.

WE ARE BOTH IN SOURCE AS LONG WITH MY BROTHER.

>> YOU WERE CRAZY NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EDUCATION PROGRAM.

I EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

I WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO WORK OVER IN BUILDING 6 AND TEACH COMPUTER CLASSES.

I WAS A SINGLE MOM AND I RAISED MY FAMILY RIGHT HERE AND MY KIDS KNEW, AND WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO GET A JOB, THEY WANTED TO COME OVER HERE AND WORK FOR G.E.

APPLIANCES ALSO.

SO IT MEANS A LOT.

>> IT HASN'T BEEN WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.

IN 2008, WHEN THE ECONOMY TOOK A TURN, SO DID JE.

G.E., THE COMPANY WAS PREPARING TO SHUT DOWN APPLIANCE PARK.

G.E.

SOLD OFF ITS APPLIANCE DIVISION TO HAIER, BUT IT PROVED TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR G.E.

APPLIANCES TO RECLAIM ITS ROOTS.

ROOTS OF INNOVATION.

>> WHEN THINGS WERE BLACKING BLEAK, THE THE FUTURE WAS UNCERTAIN HERE.

FOR YEARS WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF THIS PLACE IS SHUTTING DOWN.

AND ALL THAT TURNED AROUND IN 2008 WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND WE STARTED DEVELOPING A NEW PRODUCT, WHICH IS THE BASE OF WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY.

>> TODAY, G.E.

APPLIANCES IS GROWING.

THIS YEAR THE COMPANY UNVEILED TWO NEW DISHWASHER ASSEMBLY LINES, THE RESULT OF A 450 MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT TO EXPAND APPLIANCE PARK, MAKING G.E.

APPLIANCES, THE LARGEST DISHWASHER MANUFACTURER IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WE'VE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES, A LOT OF HEART ACHE BUT NOW WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE EVERYBODY IS EXCITED TO BE HERE.

IT'S CONTAGIOUS.

WE WANT TO MAKE GOOD PRODUCT.

WE WANT TO MAKE MORE PRODUCTS.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THIS PLACE IS GOING TO BE HERE TOMORROW.

>> I THINK IT WAS A REAL VISION AND WHILE APPLIANCE PARK MAY BE ONE OF THESE SILENT DINOSAURS, SO TO SPEAK, IN THE COMMUNITY, THE IMPACT THAT APPLIANCE PARK AND THE EMPLOYEES AT G.E., THE LARGE NUMBER OF RETIREES, THE WHOLE STORY OF G.E.

AND APPLIANCE PARK IS A REMARKABLE PART OF LOUISVILLE'S HISTORY.

♪ ♪ >> WHILE KEVIN NOLAN IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF G.E.

APPLIANCES, HERE SOME LOUISVILLE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR HISTORY HERE.

A LOT HAS CHANGED IN 70 YEARS.

BUT TELL US ABOUT YOUR HISTORY WITH G.E.

APPLIANCES.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE 70 YEARS BUT I CAME HERE IN 1997 AND I CAME AS AN ENGINEER FROM ANOTHER G.E.

INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS BASED OUT OF CONNECTICUT.

AND WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN APPLIANCES.

AND THE HIGH VOLUME CONSUMER BUSINESS.

IT WAS REALLY UNIQUE, IN THE G.E.

PORTFOLIO OF THE DAY.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE SINCE THEN AND A TON HAS CHANGED.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR G.E.

APPLIANCES.

>> YEAH, SO IT'S VERY UNIQUE IN THE INDUSTRY, WHERE YOU HAVE MANUFACTURING AND ALL THE SUPPORT THINGS REALLY PUT TOGETHER.

SO WE ARE HEADQUARTERED HERE.

WE HAVE OUR R & D BASED OUT OF HERE, OUR MARKETING, SALES, SO ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO RUN A BUSINESS THE SIZE OF G.E.

APPLIANCES IS REALLY BASED HERE OUT OF LOUISVILLE.

SOME VERY FORWARD THINKING PEOPLE LOOKED AT LOUISVILLE AND SAID WITH THE ROAD SYSTEMS THAT WERE BEING DEVELOPED, THAT SAID IF WE ARE IN LOUISVILLE, WE CAN REALLY BRING THINGS ACROSS AMERICA.

AND IT'S A VERY CENTRALLY LOCATED SPACE.

IT'S VERY STRATEGIC FOR DISTRIBUTION.

WE CAN BASICALLY GET SOMETHING IN A DAY TO 80% OF PERK WITHIN A 12 HOUR-- 80% OF AMERICA WITHIN A 12-HOUR DRIVE.

NO OTHER PLACE WITHIN LOUISVILLE HAS THAT TYPE OF ADVANTAGE.

THAT WAS TRUE WHEN THEY BUILT THIS PLACE 70 YEARS AGO AND IT IS STILL TRUE TODAY, WHICH IS AMAZING.

>> BUT THERE AREN'T AS MANY MANUFACTURING PLACES IN LOUISVILLE OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA FOR THAT MATTER.

AND IN TENT 16, G.E., GENERAL ELECTRIC BECAME MAJORITY OWNED BY HAIRE WHICH IS BASED IN CHINA.

TELL BUS THAT TRANSITION AND WHAT THAT IS LIKE.

>> FOR A LOT OF US WE HAVE BEEN WITH G.E.

OUR WHOLE CAREER.

I STARTED OUT OF COLLEGE AND WORKED FOR A GREAT COMPANY.

BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED.

WHEN THE SALE CAME, I THINK IT WAS A SCARY TIME FOR A LOT OF US WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT WAS THE FUTURE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND THE PARENT OF HAIRE IS A PARENT COMPANY AND UNIQUE COMPANY.

WHEREVER THEY WORK AROUND THE WORLD, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK VERY LOCALLY.

SO IT IS A VERY DECENTRALIZED COMPANY THAT ENTRUSTED WITH THIS TEAM HERE, THE WHOLE U.S. MARKET MORE THAN WE WERE TRUSTED BEFORE UNDER OUR FORMER PARENT SO IT'S REALLY GIVEN US A LOT OF ADVANTAGE TO FOCUS ON THE MARKET, TO FOCUS ON OUR CUSTOMERS.

AND REALLY SERVE THEM IN NEW AND BETTER WAYS THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE.

>> IT HAD TO HAVE HAD SOME GROWING PAINS DURING THAT TIME, THOUGH, RIGHT?

AND YOU WERE HERE THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

>> YEAH, SO, WHEN IT HAPPENED, I WAS STILL THE HEAD OF ENGINEERING HERE.

AND THEN ONE YEAR LATER, I BECAME THE C.E.O.

AND I THINK THAT FIRST YEAR WAS A LOT OF JUST US UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE OLD SYSTEM THAT WE WORKED ON AND WHAT COULD WE DO BETTER.

SO WE WERE REALLY GIVEN A BLANK SLATE OF WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO.

AND HOW DO WE WANT TO ACT AND HOW DO WE WANT TO GROW AND HOW DO WE WANT TO BE, UP KNOW, THE COMPANY THAT'S REALLY WINNING OUT THERE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

SO I WOULD SAY THE GROWING PAINS WERE VERY INTERNAL, OF US AS A TEAM, FIGURING OUT HOW CAN WE REALLY WIN?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENT?

>> AND YOU HAD TO PRESIDE OVER ALL OF THAT.

SO WHAT WAS YOUR VISION?

WHAT DID YOU COME INTO IT SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO BE?

>> I SAY IT WASN'T MY VISION.

IT'S REALLY A TEAM VISION THAT WE ARE A COMPETITIVE BUNCH HERE IN LOUISVILLE AND WE WANT TO WIN SO WE SAID WE WANT TO BE THE NUMBER ONE.

WE ARE TIRED OF NOT BEING AHEAD OF THE PACK.

WE REALLY NEED TO PUT A PLAN TOGETHER THAT WE CAN WIN IN THIS SPACE AND WE CAN BE THE BEST APPLIANCE COMPANY IN AMERICA.

>> SO THAT TRANSITION REALLY CHANGED HOW G.E.

APPLIANCES WAS BRANDED, REALLY.

I MEAN AND YOU HAVE KIND OF HAD A RESURGENCE OR REVITALIZATION SINCE THEN.

>> YEAH, SO WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THE CUSTOMER.

SO NOW YOU SEE WE HAVE A HOUSE OF BRANDS, MONOGRAM, CAFE, PROFILE, G.E., HOT POINT, HAIER.

WE USE THESE DIFFERENT BRANDS TO TARGET CUSTOMERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, THE WAY THEY WANT TO BE SERVED, THE WAY THEY WANT THEIR APPLIANCES TO WORK.

AND A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN ABOUT MANUFACTURING.

BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SERVE YOUR CUSTOMERS, IT'S BEST TO MAKE THINGS WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHERE THEY ARE.

AND HAVE THEM INVOLVED IN THE WHOLE PROCESS.

SO INNOVATION, MANUFACTURING HAVE BEEN A HUGE STORY HERE AT G.E.

APPLIANCES.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE APPLIANCE PARKth ITSELF, HAS ITS OWN MOVIE THEATER, IT'S OWN ZIP CODE.

IT'S A LITTLE CITY IN AND OF ITSELF AND IT WAS CREATED TO BE THAT WAY, RIGHT?

>> IT'S A UNIQUE SPACE AND LIKE I SAID, IT WAS VERY FORWARD THINKING.

IT HAS ITS OWN ZIP CODE.

THERE IS RUMOR THAT YOU COULD RESEARCH THAT MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE EASTERN TIME ZONE GOT MOVED OVER HERE IN LOUISVILLE BECAUSE THE HEADQUARTERS WERE IN CONNECTICUT AT THE TIME AND WANTED TO BE ON THE SAME TIME ZONE.

IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE ROAD SYSTEM IN LOUISVILLE, A LOT OF IT WAS BASED UPON MAKING GOOD ACCESS HERE.

NEIGHBORHOODS WERE BUILT AROUND IT.

SO I THINK IT REALLY TRANSFORMED A LOT OF THE CITY OF THIS BIG INDUSTRIAL PARK THAT HASN'T REALLY BEEN DONE IN AMERICA BEFORE G.E.

APPLIANCES.

>> AND SO HOW HAS IT REMAINED IN LOUISVILLE, CONTINUED TO BE VIBRANT, WHEN SO MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT?

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING EVERYTHING TOGETHER, SO EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS FIGHTING FOR MAKING SURE THAT THIS STAYS VIBRANT DO.

WE KEEP IT ENERGIZED?

DO WE KEEP BEING ON THE LEADING EDGE OF MANUFACTURING OF DESIGN, OF INNOVATION, SO THERE IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THE IMPACT IT MAKES TO LOUISVILLE, AND IT MAKES THE COMMUNITIES AROUND.

AND EVERYBODY HERE, I THINK, FEELS THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

>> IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO YOU AUNITED STATES NOD A $ 450-- YOU ANNOUNCED A $450 MILLION INVESTMENT IN TWO NEW DISHWASHER ASSEMBLY LINES.

TELL US HOW THAT IS GOING AND WHAT THAT'S ABOUT?

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT IS ABOUT MANUFACTURING AND BRINGING MANUFACTURING BACK IN THE STATES AND BACK WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE.

AND WE NEED TO BE STATE-OF-THE-ART.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU SEE.

WE HAVE THE MOST STATE-OF-THE-ART DISH WASHING MANUFACTURING IN LOUISVILLE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING THAT.

WE HAVE TO KEEP BEING COMPETITIVE AND KEEP WORKING ON MAKING SURE WE ARE THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO AND THAT INVESTMENT ASSURED THAT FOR DISHWASHER, WE'VE GOT A TOP PLAN.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT PLANT.

WE CONTINUE TO INVEST, TO UPGRADE, MODERNIZE BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS INDUSTRY TAKES.

IT'S A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY WHERE YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME.

>> YOU HEAR IT A LOT THAT MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE GOING AWAY IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE MOVING OVERSEAS.

AND YOU ALL ARE OWNED BY A CHINESE COMPANY.

HOW DO YOU KEEP MANUFACTURING HERE?

WHAT IS THE FUTURE HERE?

>> SO I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRUE 10 YEARS AGO, BUT IF YOU REALLY LOOK, I THINK THAT HAS REVERSED ITS TIDE.

I MEAN PEOPLE, I THINK, ARE REALIZING THAT IF YOU MANUFACTURE WITH LEAN METHODOLOGY, USE NEW TECHNIQUES, IT'S VERY EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE TO MANUFACTURE IN THE U.S.

SO I WOULD SAY MANUFACTURING IS BACK.

I THINK WE WERE A LITTLE AHEAD OF OTHERS, REALIZING THAT THE NUMBERS DO WORK.

IT IS MORE PROFITABLE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS HERE IN AMERICA.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY GOOD.

HAVE YOU TO BE VERY EFFICIENT.

SO THAT'S WHY STEM ENGINEERS, MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS, I WOULD SAY THERE IS MORE DEMAND THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, TO COME IN WITH THOSE SKILLS, TO REALLY MODERNIZE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.

AND AS LONG AS WE DO THAT, I THINK THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE VERY BRIGHT FOR AMERICA.

>> THAT'S, I WOULD ASSUME, PAST OF THE REASON WHY YOU CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

TELL US ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR THAT.

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT IS SHOWING PEOPLE THAT WE NEED PEOPLE NOT THINKING THAT MANUFACTURING IS GOING AWAY BUT UNDERSTANDING YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT FUTURE IN MANUFACTURING.

WE FEEL A BIG RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IN THE SCHOOLS AT AN EARLY AGE TO SHOW THIS KIND OF WORK IS FUN.

YOU KNOW, I'M AN ENGINEER.

BUT I GREW UP-- I DIDN'T SEE FACTORIES.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ENGINEERS DO.

AND I THINK A LOT IS WE HAVE TO INSPIRE THESE YOUNG KIDS THAT FIELDS IN STEM ARE GREAT FIELDS TO GET INTO.

AND FIELDS IN MANUFACTURING.

MANUFACTURING IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK.

YOU SEE OUR PLANTS.

IT'S A GOOD ENVIRONMENT.

THESE THINGS ARE AIR CONDITIONED NOW.

IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO WORK.

SO WE HAVE TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S MINDSET AND I THINK SHOW THAT THERE IS A FANTASTIC FUTURE.

AND THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND ACROSS AMERICA FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT WITH THOSE SKILLS.

SO WE HAVE TO START EARLY.

WE HAVE TO HELP THE PARENTS UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS A PLACE YOU SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO GO INTO.

THR GREAT JOBS OUT THERE.

THIS IS A GREAT FUTURE AND LET THE KIDS KNOW IT'S FUN.

AND IT IS NOT INTIMIDATING, MATH, SCIENCE, HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE APPROACHABLE?

>> AND THINGS LIKE THE JCPS ACADEMY PARTICULARLY I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO BRING THAT INTO THE SCHOOLS?

>> YEAH, I THINK COMPANIES DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP EDUCATORS UNDERSTAND WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED TO TEACH.

AND WHAT IS RELEVANT TODAY?

AND COMPANIES HAVE TO TAKE A PART.

YOU KNOW THIS NEEDS TO BE PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITH CORPORATE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EDUCATION WE ARE GIVING OUR CHILDREN IS LEADING THEM TO THE KIND OF PLACE THAT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE FEEL PARTNERING IN WITH THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN REWARDING FOR US AS EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK GREAT FOR THE CITY, ALSO.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> RIGHT NOW 15 JCPS SCHOOLS ARE A PART OF JCPS ACADEMIES, A CAREER AND TECHNICAL PROGRAM GIVING STUDENTS TRAINING IN EVERYTHING FROM NURSING TO GRAPHIC DESIGN.

G.E.

APPLIANCES IS PARTNER WITH THE ACADEMY'S ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING PATHWAY AT DOSS HIGH SCHOOL.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH DOSS HIGH SCHOOL AND BACK WHEN WE LAUNCHED THIS PARTNERSHIP ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, DOSS WAS THE LOWEST PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

NOT JUST LOUISVILLE, IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND WE ARE SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT, WHEN WE TOOK THIS ON, G.E.

APPLIANCES DOESN'T DO ANYTHING HALF.

WE WERE ALL IN.

OUR EMPLOYEES GOT BEHIND THIS SCHOOL.

THEY ARE IN THAT SCHOOL EVERY WEEK, MENTORING, WORKING WITH STUDENTS, TEACHING.

WE BUILT A $650,000 ASSEMBLY LINE, A MOCK ASSEMBLY LINE, THE SAME ONE WE USE IN THE FACTORIES TO HELP TRAIN FOLKS.

WE PUT THAT IN AT DOSS HIGH SCHOOL SO STUDENTS CAN LEARN AND SEE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE, MAKE DIFFERENT CAL VAGUESES.

USE THAT EVERY DAY FOR LEARNING AND THEN WE OFFERED A PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS CAN COME HERE TO WORK THEIR SENIOR YEAR.

CALLED GEA2 DAY.

THE BEST STUDENTS COME HERE AND WORK AND GET PAID THE SAME HOURLY WAGE AS ANY EMPLOYEE.

IT'S A GREAT STEPPING STONE WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

WE HAVE HIRED SO MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS FROM DOSS WHO WORK HERE.

SOME OF THEM ARE WORKING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE IF YOU ONLY WORK TWO DAYS A WEEK HERE, YOU QUALIFY FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT SO YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND BE ABLE TO USE THAT AS A STEPPING STONE TO GET YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE AND CONTINUE ADVANCING YOUR CAREER HERE AT G.E.

APPLIANCES.

>> THE BLUE WAY PROJECT HERE AT DOSS IS NO THE JUST A ONE AND DONE THING.

THEIR INVOLVEMENT THROUGH RESOURCES IS ALL YEAR LONG WITH US.

I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF HOW MANY DIFFERENT CAREER FAIRS AND SITE VISITS THAT G.E.A.

HAS DONE BUT AGAIN, THAT'S ALL PART OF BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND KNOWING THAT THEY'RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY GRADUATE AND THEY WANT A HAND IN THAT.

>> WE HAVE OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN OUR LARGEST MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN THE ABSOLUTE BEST COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD.

IT HAS SUPPORTED US TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.

WITH ALL THE EBBS AND FLOWS, THERE IS REALLY NOT A FAMILY IN LOUISVILLE WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM ABOUT G.E.

APPLIANCES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SOME SORT OF CONNECTION TO IT.

GRI GRANDPARENTS WORK HERE, THEIR MOM, DAD, SON OR DAUGHTER.

EVERYBODY HAS A CONNECTION TO THIS MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND SO PEOPLE VERY MUCH FEEL A PART OF G.E.

APPLIANCES AND WE FEEL A PART OF LOUISVILLE.

IT'S OUR HOME AND IT'S WHERE WE CHOOSE TO LIVE AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES AND WE SAY OUR HOME IS BEST CITY IN AMERICA.

[ CHEERING ] >> BUT G.E.

APPLIANCES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS NO THE JUST ABOUT STUDENTS.

G.E.A.

'S FIRST BUILD FACILITY IS ABOUT GETTING OUTSIDERS INVOLVED IN THE INNOVATION AND ENGINEERING PROCESS.

LOCATED ON U OF L CAMPUS FIRST BUILD IS A MAKER SPACE WHERE ANYONE CAN BECOME AN INVENTOR OF THE NEXT BIG APPLIANCE.

WELCOME TO THE FIRST BUILD MAKER SPACE.

IT'S A DESTINATION FOR MAKERS.

WE ARE TASKED WITH INVENTING AND INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF THE HOME, BUT MOST IMPORTANT WAY WE DO THAT IS WITH COMMUNITY.

FIRST BUILD IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

OUR FOCUSED COMMUNITY HOURS ARE MONDAY-FRIDAY 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. AND 9 HF 5 ON SATURDAYS AND QUITE LITERALLY ANYONE CAN COME IN.

OUR MAKER SPACE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE 18 AND OVER OR 13 AND UNDER UP WITH A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

WE HAVE HAND TOOLS, COOL 3D PRINTERS AND LASERS, YOU CAN COME UP WITH PROJECTS.

EITHER YOU ARE COMING UP WITH YOUR OWN PROTOTYPE OR AN ARTIST DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE.

WE ARE HERE IN LOUISVILLE, OUR MAKER SPACE IS BEHIND US AND THAT'S WHERE WE INTERACT WITH OTHER CREATIVES AND ENTHUSIASTS AS WE THINK ABOUT THE NEXT INVENTIONS OF THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE AN ELECTRONIC SHOP, OUR 3D PRINTERS, LASERS WHICH ARE SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR'SES OF EQUIPMENT BECAUSE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING FROM SIGNAGE TO PIECES OF ART WITH THEM AND THAT'S ALWAYS A FAN FAVORITE.

AND AT THE DIFFERENT STATIONS WE HAVE PRODUCTS THAT FIRST BUILD HAS WORKED ON IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

THEY MAY BE DOING TEST TESTING.

THEY MAY BE OUT FOR DEMOS.

WE ARE GOING TO HEAD INTO THE SHOP RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS WHERE WE DO A LOT OF OUR PROTOTYPING, WE CUT AND BEND A LOT OF METAL SO SAFE PLACE, BUT BECAUSE WE ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFETY FIRST LET ME TAKE YOU INSIDE.

AS WE MOVE DEEPER INTO THE SHOP, I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT A FEW THINGS TODAY.

WE LOVE WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

WE LOVE INSPIRING MAKERS OR WORKING WITH EXISTING MAKERS AND ARTISTS.

WE DEVELOP PRODUCT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE LOTS OF CREATIVE PEOPLE IN HERE SO BEHIND ME IS COLLIN.

COLLIN IS AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.

HE IS A NATIONALLY FAMOUS BLACKSMITH, WHO STARTED WORKING WITH US AROUND THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND USING THIS AS HIS HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

COLLIN IS OUR HEAD CONTENT CREATOR AND VIDEOGRAPHER HERE AND IN HIS SPARE TIME HE MAKES AWESOME DAMASCUS WEAPONS AND LEADS THE FIRST BUILD BLACKSMITHING CLUB.

BEHIND ME IS OUR FOUR AND A HALF KILOWATT LASER.

THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS BIG.

IT IS DANGEROUS.

IT IS VERY PRODUCTIVE AND IT'S A HEART BEAT ITEM FOR OUR MANUFACTURING WE DO USE IT SOME IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BUT USE TO IT MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS LIKE THE MUSHROOM CHAMBER AND THE MONOGRAM HEARTH.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SKILLED PEOPLE HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING EQUIPMENT AND THAT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY SOME OF OUR BIGGER EQUIPMENT.

PART OF BEING A CITIZEN OF LOUISVILLE, TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE, IT'S NOT JUST ALTRUISTIC.

WE GET A LOT FROM IT, TOO.

WE GET TO WORK WITH PASSIONATE PEOPLE WHO ARE SOLVING PROBLEMS WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF OR THEY GIVE US FEEDBACK ON THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON AND THEY TELL US WE SHOULDN'T BE WORKING ON THE THING WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OR THE THING WE ARE NOT EXCITED ABOUT, THEY'RE LIKE YOU SHOULD SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON THAT FIRST BUILD IS MEANT TO SIGNIFY THAT FIRST CREATIVITY, WHETHER A PRODUCT MIGHT LOOK LIKE THIS OR WORK LIKE THIS.

OFTEN TIMES IT'S NOT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS AND THAT GETS ME REALLY, REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT CAN JUST START WITH A COLONEL KERNEL OF AN IDEA BUT THOSE THINGS COME TO LIFE WITH LOTS OF PASSIONATE PEOPLE AND THIS IS A DESTINATION FOR THOSE PASSIONATE PEOPLE AND I JUST LOVE BEING A PART OF IT.

>> TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FIRST BUILD OR JCPA ACADEMIES WE'VE LINKED YOU UP TO INFORMATION ONLINE AT ket.org/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

PLUS -- DON'T FORGET TO GIVE US A FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM AT KET-IN-LOU WHERE YOU CAN SEE BEHIND THE SCENES PICTURES AND VIDEOS FROM ALL OF OUR ADVENTURES INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪