N.C. county in running for furniture plant, possibly Ashley

Project could create more than 500 jobs

Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, June 21, 2011

MOCKSVILLE, N.C. — Officials in Davie County said they are being considered for the location of furniture-related company that would support more than 500 jobs, the Winston-Salem Journal reported today.

According to the paper, speculation is that the company is Ashley Furniture, which has been looking for a site on the East Coast to support its mid-Atlantic operations.

Ashley Chairman Ron Wanek would neither confirm nor deny the company's interest in the county, located about 50 miles west of High Point. But he said the company is studying sites in both Carolinas and Virginia.

It has not been a secret that Ashley has been looking for a plant location on the Eastern Seaboard. Wanek told Furniture/Today in December that the company would like to add a seventh plant and distribution center to its U.S. operations with an "ideal" footprint of 150 acres, and 1.2 million square feet close to major highways, rail and ports.

The Journal quoted Terry Bralley, president of Davie County's Economic Development, as saying the county "is prepared to handle projects like this and any other opportunities looking on a global or national level."

Ashley now has U.S. plants in Arcadia, Wis., Colton, Calif., Ecru and Ripley, Miss., Leesport, Pa., and Brandon, Fla.