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Alexander County project grows to 165 jobs

From staff reports

Hickory Daily Record

Published: September 18, 2009

TAYLORSVILLE - Alexander County officials announced that the Caye Home Furnishings project here has grown from 128 jobs to 165 jobs.

As announced Sept. 11, Caye Home Furnishings will invest $1.4 million and create at least 128 new jobs in Alexander County during the next three years.

The Mississippi-based upholstered furniture manufacturer and casegoods importer will locate in a former Broyhill facility on N.C. 90 East, adjacent to the Alexander Industrial Park.

Two other companies — Industrial Timber and North Carolina Foam & Sales — will be housed in the same facility and add another 37 jobs.

Industrial Timber is an existing employer in Alexander County and will create 17 new jobs as a direct result of Caye's project. North Carolina Foam & Sales will create 20 new jobs.

The combined efforts of the three companies will result in the creation of a total of 165 new jobs, and the combined annual payroll for the companies will be approximately $4.7 million.

"The new jobs and the payroll that this project is bringing come at a very fortunate time for Alexander County," said Alexander County Commission Chairman Darrell Robertson.

Caye Home Furnishings officials said the plant should be operational within 30 days.

While no direct local government incentives were provided to Caye Home Furnishings by the county, the Alexander County Economic Development Corporation with assistance from Alexander County government, is participating in the project by purchasing approximately 90 acres of the 118 acres included in the project site. The 90 acres will be owned by the economic development corporation and will be marketed as part of the existing Alexander Industrial Park.

The EDC will pay $600,000 for the 90 acres over the next three years.

"The addition of this property to the existing industrial park will be beneficial for long-term economic development activities," said Andrew Jackson, EDC chairman.

"The EDC board of directors is extremely pleased to participate in a project which creates much-needed employment immediately and enhances future industrial opportunities."

For information on employment opportunities at the Alexander County facility, contact the North Carolina Employment Security Commission office in Taylorsville at 632-4631.

A key factor in the project is a $250,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. The grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.