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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

China-based Furniture Assembler, GOK International, Invests $12.5 Million On Virginia Facilities

09/19/2012
GOK International, a Chinese furniture assembler, plans to invest $12.5 million to established its sales and headquarters office at Old Belt One in the River District of Danville, Virginia, and its assembly and showroom operations at the 40,000 square foot Cane Creek Shell Building in Ringgold, Virginia.

GOK International specializes in assembling office, hotel, and institutional furniture.The company estimates it will employ 300 people within three years. Employment should begin in earnest early in 2013 with the overall average wage at $30,000.

According to local economic development officials, the Federal Government placed a significant importation tax on Chinese furniture, which has made it more expensive to manufacture and assemble furniture in China for the U.S. market. The anti-dumping law is expected to be a long term trade policy change with China. GOK International, therefore, will ship furniture components to the United States for final assembly to by-pass the high import duty.

"We have a very good relationship with Pittsylvania County and Danville, which is important for us in reaching a decision to make our first investment in the United States. The plant's location is only an hour and fifteen minutes from the vast furniture markets of High Point," stated GOK International President Kevin Liao.

Mayor Sherman Saunders, Chairman of the Danville Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority, said, "I can say that we have a first class company coming to the region. I am delighted that we can accommodate both their headquarters and assembly space in the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County, which demonstrates the importance of working together as a team under the auspices of RIFA."

As an incentive, The Danville Industrial Development Authority is purchasing the building and leasing it to the company on property owned by RIFA.

Tim Barber, Chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors stated, "We are excited to have a Chinese company agree to create new jobs and invest several million dollars in the region. The assembly jobs are much needed and will help re-employ our work force."

Delegate Danny Marshall, also a member of the Tobacco Commission, said, "The Tobacco Commission is all about improving the economy of the regions that it serves. This project is one which the Commission was able to support with a $1,000,000 grant from its Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund, and it is just the kind of project that we need in our community to improve our local economy."
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