Ethan Allen Expands Furniture Production in N.C.

August 8, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on August 9, 2010 Ethan Allen Operations, which manufacturers Ethan Allen Interiors product, plans to create 90 jobs and invest $250,000 to expand its capacity in Old Fort, N.C.

The project, announced last week by N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue was made possible in part by a $270,000 grand from the One North Carolina Fund.

€œIn addition to bringing jobs and investment to Western North Carolina, Ethan Allen€™s decision to expand in McDowell County speaks volumes about our strong workforce and business climate,€ Perdue said. €œNorth Carolina€™s support for the furniture industry is recognized worldwide.€

Ethan Allen€™s Old Fort plant manufactures solid wood case goods its design centers. The company also manufactures upholstery in Maiden, N.C., and employs about 1,300 employees in North Carolina.

€œThe recession of the past year has resulted in many challenges and also created opportunities to accelerate establishing a stronger enterprise,€ said Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allen chairman and CEO. €œOur plan to expand case goods operations in Old Fort, N.C., where we have been operating since 1959, will start immediately. We are pleased that the state and local government authorities in North Carolina worked with us to make this happen."

The jobs will pay an average wage of $26,645 not including benefits, slightly under the McDowell County average annual wage of $27,768.

€œDuring these tough economic times, it€™s critical to make the right investments that will create jobs and economic opportunities in McDowell County,€ said Sen. Joe Sam Queen.  €œOur top-notch workforce is a big reason for this welcome news today.€ 

The One NC Fund  provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent on local matches.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with the project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community College Systems and McDowell County.

The full press release is on the N.C. governor's Web site.