Video: Southern Motion Expansion Means 600 Jobs At Former Hancock Fabrics Location

BALDWYN, MISS. (WCBI) – “But today is about 600 new jobs,” said Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.

That announcement from Gov.Bryant capped seven months of negotiations and work as Southern Motion announced plans to expand its manufacturing operations into the former Hancock Fabrics warehouse and distribution center.

“Mississippi, now Northeast Mississippi has become the upholstered furniture capital of America and we think of the world,” Gov. Bryant said.

The expansion represents a $20,000,000 investment.  Southern Motion will operate 12 production lines in the 758,000square foot facility, where they will make recliners, love seats and other furniture.

The jobs are high tech with good pay.

“This is not the furniture factory of yesterday, these are modern, high tech, career driven positions, where families can not just make money, but make a living, not just make a living but make a career and a great opportunity for their families,” said Dist. 6 State Sen. Chad McMahan.

Experts say the expansion is another sign the furniture industry is on the rebound.

While some furniture manufacturers moved out of the state or the country when the recession hit, Southern Motion executives said they were determined from day one to stay in Northeast Mississippi.

“That’s critical.  We’ve always felt a domestic manufacturer had advantage over the imports.  From a pricing standpoint, that was the concern most people had.  But we had enough faith in our state, our country and our workforce that we knew we could compete, we could out service the competition,” said Roger Bland, President and CEO of Southern Motion.

Modifications to the new site are underway.  Southern Motion will still operate its Pontotoc plant, but a smaller facility in Prentiss County will close.  Those employees will work at the new location.

The company expects to begin operations in its new location by January.