Ashley Furniture Adding Space And Jobs

JACKSON— Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Ashley Furniture gathered today for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the company’s stationary upholstery manufacturing and regional distribution center in Ecru, Miss. The project represents a $6 million corporate investment in an expansion of its manufacturing facility and transportation terminal.

Once construction is complete, the new 175,192-square-foot addition will increase the company’s footprint in Ecru to nearly 2 million square feet under roof. It will also increase the facility’s manufacturing capacity, allowing Ashley Furniture to meet an increased product demand for its customers in the South and Midwestern regions of the U.S.

“Northeast Mississippi’s furniture industry continues to experience significant growth, and Ashley Furniture’s new addition will enable the company to capitalize upon that momentum well into the future,” Gov. Bryant said. “Ashley Furniture has been a valued partner to the state of Mississippi for more than two decades, providing thousands of job opportunities for the residents of North Mississippi throughout its four locations. I thank the company for its continued investment in our state and in its operations.”

“We are extremely proud of the relationships we have formed in the communities and surrounding areas of Ecru, Ripley and Verona, Mississippi. Our company’s growth and development is a testament to the pro-business attitude of the state of Mississippi and the pride and workmanship of our team members,” said Todd Wanek, Ashley Furniture president and CEO. “We are a customer-centric company and the latest expansion in Ecru is one that we feel will result in improved efficiencies to the benefit of our customers.”

Due to an increasing number of safety concerns involving T Todd Road, which borders Ashley’s Ecru facility, the Mississippi Development Authority and Mississippi Department of Transportation are currently relocating the road. The relocation will also support Ashley’s expansion. MDA provided assistance for property right-of-way acquisition for the expansion, and MDOT is performing the construction.

“We salute the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Three Rivers Planning and Development District for their extraordinary teamwork with MDA in support of Ashley Furniture’s latest expansion in North Mississippi,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr. “This latest addition helps position Ashley Furniture for many more years of success growing our state’s economy and providing careers for Mississippians.”

Ashley Furniture employs close to 4,000 people in the State of Mississippi. It also supports approximately 400 Mississippi vendors. The purchases from these businesses make up a significant part of Ashley’s annual $230 million impact on the state’s economy. Its facility in Ecru is the largest upholstery producing plant in the world – with approximately 2 million square feet under roof.

The company offers one of the furniture industry’s broadest product assortments to its retail partners in 123 countries. For more information, visit www.ashleyfurniture.com.