Stanley Furniture to Expand adding 205 Jobs

The new jobs will pay an average wage of $27,268, not including benefits

July 10, 2008

GRAHAM COUNTY NC NEWS -- Stanley Furniture, a leading employer in Graham County, will expand its Robbinsville plant, investing $1.5 million and adding 205 jobs during the next three years. Currently, the company employs more than 1,700 workers, including 315 in Graham County. Stanley Furniture considered closing the Graham facility and consolidating its North Carolina operations in Virginia, but decided to instead expand the Robbinsville location. It is believed the expansion will save 315 existing jobs in Graham County and add 205 more by 2010. The company recently decided to close a plant in Lexington that will result in the loss of 350 jobs in Davidson County.

The Stanley Furniture expansion will also be partially funded by a $250,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. Announcing the grant, Governor Easley said:

''Furniture is one of the foundations of North Carolina's economy and we are proud to see that tradition carried on with Stanley Furniture's continued commitment to our state. Whether traditional industries or high tech, our state will continue to work to provide business climate that helps companies stay here, prosper and grow.''

Founded in 1924, Stanley Furniture is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality residential wood furniture with 2007 revenues of $283 million. The new jobs will pay an average wage of $27,268, not including benefits, which is more than the county average of $26,572.

Stanley Furniture president and CEO Jeffrey R. Scheffer said, ''We appreciate the cooperation and support from all the partners involved in this project at the state and local level that will enable us to expand our Robbinsville, NC operations."

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. Through the use of the One North Carolina Fund, more than 30,000 jobs and $6 billion in investment have been created since 2001. All of these grants require local matches.

Other partners who helped with the Stanley Furniture project include:

• N.C. Department of Commerce
• Tri-County Community College
• Graham County
• City of Robbinsville
• Duke Energy

Currently, the Stanley Furniture Company has one job opening in Virginia for a Supervisor Rough End/Gang Rip and Conventional Cut-Off, but should post the employment positions as they become available. Furthermore, a small sample of Stanley Furniture job opportunities includes positions in:

• Accounting/Auditing
• Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
• Administrative and Support Services
• Building and Grounds Maintenance
• Computer Technologies
• Customer Services
• Electronics
• Engineering
• Human Resources/Recruiting
• Environmental Services
• Financial Services
• Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
• Manufacturing and Production
• Sales
• Telemarketing

For more information about Stanley Furniture in Graham County, North Carolina, and all jobs opportunities visit the www.stanleyfurniture.com