ARCHDALE (MCT) — Stickley wants to expand its high-end furnishings production to a second plant in Archdale.

The company is planning to invest $880,000 by renovating a former warehouse at 701 Eden Terrace. The company would add 20 jobs that pay $14 to $15 per hour.

Stickley purchased the former Unifi Inc. textile facility at 116 Petty St. 10 years ago. The company employs 165 workers there.

The company had been leasing the Eden Terrace facility for storage and distribution. Now it wants to use it to produce its recently acquired Nichols & Stone line.

The company wants a financial incentive from Archdale and Randolph County — $11,250 to reimburse the company for the cost of extending a natural gas line 1,700 feet to the property.

Archdale and the county would split the expense at $5,625 each. The Archdale City Council unanimously approved its half of the incentive Tuesday night. Bonnie Renfro, president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corp., said the Randolph County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider its incentive request next week.

The incentive agreement stipulates that Stickley remain in Archdale for two years following the payment and maintain employment at no less than 90 percent of its current work force base.

Source : www.news-record.com