Largest furniture maker to add 450 jobs to 1,100 now in NC

By EMERY P. DALESIO
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The country’s largest furniture maker and retailer plans to expand in North Carolina with about 450 jobs after the state promised tax breaks of more than $5 million.

A North Carolina panel overseeing the state’s largest business incentive program on Tuesday approved the tax break if Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. adds the jobs to its current 1,100 employees.

Gov. Pat McCrory announced the jobs in High Point, where the twice-a-year international furniture market opens this weekend.

Wisconsin-based Ashley Furniture last year opened its a new production and distribution site near the Davie County town of Advance after state officials promised the privately owned company special tax breaks of up to $4 million. State legislators approved a further tax break in 2011 aimed at attracting the Ashley operation.

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