Hundreds of manufacturing jobs coming to Davie County

Published 12:10 am Wednesday, October 14, 2015

State officials on Tuesday announced hundreds of manufacturing jobs are coming to Rowan County’s northern neighbor.

Gov. Pat McCrory and other officials announced Ashley Furniture’s distribution facility in Davie County will add 454 new jobs during the next five years. New positions will include upholstery, casegoods and mattress manufacturing specialists, warehouse, driver and information technology professionals. Tied to the additional jobs is an $8.7 million investment through the end of 2019, according to a news release.

The company will receive a state Job Development Investment Grant to make its expansion possible. In total, Ashley Furniture will receive $4.6 million in tax reimbursements from 2016 through 2027. North Carolina’s Economic Development Investment Committee approved officially the incentives on Tuesday, according to a news release. Ashley Furniture will also receive $829,500 in performance-based grant funding from the One North Carolina Fund.

“America’s leading furniture manufacturer is again investing in the South’s leading manufacturing state,” McCrory said in a news release about the additional jobs. “Ashley continues to be an enormously successful company, and we’re proud that it has chosen North Carolina as the place to pursue its ambitious growth plans.”

In its first phase of development, Ashley Furniture committed to create 500 jobs and invest $80 million. McCrory’s news release says Ashley exceeded its commitment, creating more than 1,100 jobs and investing more than $250 million. Ashley Furniture first moved to Davie County in April 2012.

“We are extremely pleased with the pro-business attitude of the State of North Carolina and the efforts of our entire team.” said Todd Wanek, Ashley’s President and CEO. “It has been a challenging and fulfilling journey, and we look forward to a very bright future in North Carolina.”

Ashley Furniture’s plant in Davie County sits just south of Interstate 40 in the Advance community. The company is based in Arcadia, Wis.

In a news release about the announcement, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John Skvarla stressed that furniture manufacturing is still part of North Carolina’s DNA.

“Our diligent workforce, excellent training programs and modern infrastructure are among the key assets that help sharpen the competitive edge of companies like Ashley,” Skvarla said.

State officials made Tuesday’s announcement in High Point, nicknamed the Furniture and Hosiery Capitol of the World.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.