Two New Industries Announced in Pontotoc

PONTOTOC, Miss.—State and local officials gathered today as representatives from Brooks and Dehart Furniture Xpress, Inc. and Eaton Custom Seating announced they were investing in new and existing operations, respectively, in Pontotoc, Miss. The two companies are creating a total of 55 new jobs.

Headquartered in North Carolina, Brooks and Dehart Furniture Xpress is a furniture-only logistics and delivery company. The company is opening a terminal in Pontotoc County to serve furniture manufacturers in northeast Mississippi. The project represents a corporate investment of $2.8 million and will create 35 new jobs.

Officials from Eaton Custom Seating also announced the company is expanding its operations in Pontotoc. Eaton Custom Seating manufactures seating products used primarily in hospitality and health care environments. The expansion involves the addition of 12,825 square feet of manufacturing space at its existing 110,000-square-foot facility, as well as the addition of a new parking area. The project represents a corporate investment of $500,000 and will create 20 new jobs.

“I am very pleased to welcome Brooks and Dehart as the newest business partner to the state of Mississippi, and I thank Eaton Custom Seating for investing in its existing operations and further strengthening its roots in Pontotoc County,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “These two announcements are great news for Pontotoc and the northeast Mississippi region, and I thank both of these companies for investing in Mississippi and creating new job opportunities for the area’s workforce.”

“We are excited to locate our first Mississippi operation in Pontotoc. The community has made us feel very welcome, and we appreciate the efforts by the local and state leaders who helped make this project happen,” said Brooks and Dehart Furniture Xpress President Anthony Brooks. “We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with the people of this community.”

“Eaton Custom Seating is proud to be a part of the Pontotoc community for more than 50 years,” said Eaton Custom Seating President Greg Marx. “We value our relationship with all of our elected officials and appreciate all that they have done. ECS truly feels that we are all in this together.”

For the Brooks and Dehart project, the Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance for building improvements, and Pontotoc County provided assistance for site work.
For the Eaton Custom Seating expansion, MDA provided assistance for construction of building addition and the parking lot, and the city of Pontotoc provided assistance, as well.

“Working with our economic development partners throughout the state, we strive to provide a business environment that fosters success for Mississippi’s new and existing businesses, and these two announcements serve as a testament to that,” MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen said. “We thank our partners at the city of Pontotoc and Pontotoc County for working to bring Brooks and Dehart to Mississippi and for helping Eaton Custom Seating as it expands in Pontotoc County.”

To learn more about Brooks and Dehart Furniture Xpress, please visit www.brooksfurniturexpress.com. To learn more about Eaton Custom Seating, please visit www.eatonseating.com.