United Furniture Adding 100 Jobs in Nettleton

FROM THE MONROE JOURNAL

NETTLETON – Officials from United Furniture Industries have announced the company is expanding operations at its manufacturing facility in Nettleton. The project represents a company investment of $277,000 and will create a minimum of 100 new jobs.

United Furniture Industries is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of Simmons Upholstered Furniture. The company offers a large range of styles and designs that include stationary sofas, Beautyrest upholstery, reclining sofas, recliners, sectionals and Hide-A-Bed sleepers.

Also, Governor Phil Bryant, the Monroe County Board of Supervisors and the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce are very happy to announce that the Mississippi Development Authority has approved a $1,323,363 Community Development Block Grant for the United Furniture Industries plant and property located in Nettleton.

The building is the former PeopLounger facility. United Furniture Industries is an upholstered furniture manufacturer. The company started production and moved employees into the facility in July, 2012. The company has locations in California, North Carolina and in Mississippi in Okolona, Amory and Nettleton. The company employs 3,000 nationwide, with more than 1,800 of those located in the Mississippi locations.

The grant will fund the complete re-roofing of the 445,000 square foot building. This improvement will greatly assist the company with its long term commitment to continue to grow their operations in this region.

The company has 400 employees at the Nettleton plant and as part of its commitment for the grant, it will create a minimum of 100 additional jobs within the next 24 months.

“Job creation is crucial to economic development and I appreciate United Furniture Industries for continuing to invest in its Mississippi operations and for creating these new jobs for the residents of Nettleton. United Furniture is a valued business partner to the State of Mississippi and I am proud we have the business infrastructure in place that allows our existing businesses to grow and succeed here,” said Gov. Phil Bryant.

The Monroe County Board of Supervisors has recently passed several items to make this project a reality.

“This is a great opportunity for Monroe County to grow jobs and for one of the largest manufacturers in our county to continue to grow in their markets. They have made a strong, long-term commitment to our county and we are thankful to have them partner with us to put more folks to work,” said Monroe County Board of Supervisors president Billy Kirkpatrick.

Monroe County Chamber of Commerce executive director Tony Green credits teamwork to UFI’s expansion.

“Along with the commitment by the company and the Monroe County Board of Supervisors and the project oversight and management by the chamber, there are several others that helped make this project possible. Assistance was provided by the Three Rivers Planning and Development District, the Mississippi Development Authority, Renasant Bank and the Creekmore Law office,” Green said.

The roof project is in the contractor bid process with a bid to be awarded within the next four to six weeks by the board of supervisors.