Furniture manufacturer Design Foundry LLC plans to hire more than 200 workers to staff its new factory in North Carolina, state commerce officials announced this week.
The facility in Hickory, North Carolina, will produce upholstered furniture as part of a partnership with an unnamed “major furniture and home goods retailer.”
Company officials expect to invest more than $3 million in the project, which will combine conventional furniture manufacturing with advanced technology, research and development initiatives, and supplier partnerships. The company will also establish its corporate headquarters in Hickory.
Design Foundry specifically credited the efforts of Catawba County in developing the region's science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills.
“We are excited about the opportunities this will create for everyone,” said President and CEO Eric Fulcher. “Together, with our skilled men and women, new generations will be introduced to upholstery manufacturing.”
North Carolina’s Economic Investment Committee approved a grant that could reimburse the company for more than $1.5 million over 12 years, provided it meets hiring and investment requirements. The state expects the project’s overall economic impact to reach $320 million in that time frame.
Gov. Roy Cooper said the decision reflected the state’s long history in furniture manufacturing and “sets the industry up for future growth.”
The new hires are expected to be added over the next five years.
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