News
In the News: New distribution center to create 80 jobs
Posted on May 26, 2016
Originally published in the Times Daily.
Officials with the city of Russellville and Farmers Home Furniture announced Monday that the company will invest $10 million and create 80 jobs in a new distribution center.
Mayor David Grissom said Farmers Home Furniture has bought a 325,000-square-foot facility in Russellville Industrial Park.
“This is big for our city, our county and our region,” Grissom said of the announcement. “We’re excited about having Farmers Home Furniture in Russellville and what this will mean to this entire region.”
Farmers Home Furniture has 35 stores in various locations throughout Alabama. The company has recently opened a store in Muscle Shoals.
The company, which was founded in 1949 by Sherwin Glass, is one of the top 100 furniture companies in the U.S.
Mitch Mays, executive director of the Franklin County Development Authority, said Farmers Home Furniture is an employee-owned company with 198 stores and over 2,000 employees in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida and, most recently, Tennessee.
“We continue to honor Sherwin Glass’s dream by investing in small-town America,” said Phillip Faircloth, chairman and CEO of Farmers Home Furniture. “Farmers strives to be a good citizen of every community where it invests, and being an employee-owned company, we have committed to return the benefits of our success to our employee owners and communities.
“We are grateful to the state of Alabama and the city of Russellville for their support, which enabled us to expand our distribution operations here in Russellville.”
Russellville officials are abating sales and property taxes for 10 years.
Mays said the company has plans to immediately begin renovating the plant, with intentions of the distribution center being operational in December. He said the Russellville location was selected from a multi-state search for additional distribution center space.
Company officials said having the distribution center in Russellville means the company is positioned to serve its north Alabama and new Tennessee locations, as well as move forward with its long-term growth plans.
“Farmers Home Furniture’s new distribution hub in Russellville is an important component in the company’s strategy to expand its retail footprint,” said Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce Greg Canfield in a release. “This announcement reflects the company’s confidence in Alabama’s workforce, and in the area’s infrastructure network.”
City officials said the average salary of employees will be around $34,000 per year with benefits.
“This new distribution center is creating jobs, opportunities for citizens,” Grissom said. “It’s something very positive for our economy. We’re grateful to Farmers Home Furniture for investing in our city and our region.”