RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- A furniture manufacturer has announced plans to create jobs and expand its operations in a western North Carolina county.
Gov. Beverly Perdue's office said on Wednesday that Ethan Allen Operations Inc., a manufacturer of Ethan Allen Interiors, will expand in Old Fort.
The company plans to create 90 jobs and invest $250,000 to expand its production capacity. The project was made possible in part by a $270,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
Ethan Allen's Old Fort plant manufactures dining and bedrooms sets for its North American and international design centers. The company also manufactures upholstery furniture in Maiden and has about 1,300 employees in North Carolina.
The jobs will pay an average wage of $26,645 not including benefits. The McDowell County average annual wage is $27,768.
