Chico's FAS, a women's specialty retailer, will invest more than $15 million to expand its distribution operations in Winder, Georgia, according to the Georgia governor's office. The project is expected to create 189 full-time jobs over the next three years. Florida-headquartered Chico's will purchase a 300,000-square-foot vacant building, previously used as a distribution facility for another company, near the company's existing distribution center. The company owns the specialty retail brands Chico's, White House, Black Market, and Soma Intimates. "We are fortunate in having the opportunity to purchase this nearby facility that will enable us to expand our current distribution operations, providing sufficient capacity to serve our needs through 2016," says Jeffrey A. Jones, the company's executive vice president and COO. The Gwinnett Daily Post reports that the state will provide Chico's FAS with tax credits totaling $6.8 million, some contingent on job creation, and a $500,000 grant for site expansion and development.
