Ashley Furniture Industries, the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, plans to expand operations in two of its existing locations in Lee County, Mississippi. The project represents a corporate investment of approximately $80 million in facilities and equipment and will create at least 500 new jobs.

This project will expand Ashley’s foam and mattress production in Verona through the purchase and renovation of a neighboring facility and the construction of a new facility. Additionally, Ashley plans to expand operations in Saltillo, currently the country’s largest mattress plant, with a substantial investment in equipment and operations. This project aims to enhance the company’s operational efficiencies to better serve Ashley’s customers in over 155 countries worldwide.

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX program, as well as assistance to upgrade fire safety systems. In addition, Lee County is assisting through a fee-in-lieu agreement.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our Verona and Saltillo operations in Mississippi. This strategic investment reinforces our commitment to growth and allows us to better serve our customers. By expanding our capabilities in Mississippi, we are creating more job opportunities and strengthening our presence in the region,” said Todd Wanek, CEO and President, Ashley.

In 2020, Ashley Furniture expanded operations at the Verona and Saltillo locations. The expansions represented a combined corporate investment of $22 million and will create a total of 130 jobs across the two facilities, according to an announcement from the Mississippi Development Authority.

In Verona, Ashley’s investment of $13 million will include a building addition and new equipment to support its furniture and bedding locations across North Mississippi. The company will add 30 new jobs at the Verona facility.

In Saltillo, Ashley will be upgrading the facility and adding new equipment to support the expansion of its bedding products and mattresses. The company is investing $9 million and adding 100 jobs in Saltillo.

Ashley is an FDMC 300 company, ranking #1 on the list of the largest wood products manufacturers in North America.

Source: Woodworkingnetwork