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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Ison Furniture Manufacturing and Supplier Dogwood Global Plan Production Facilities in Pittsylvania County, Virginia

10/27/2020
Ison Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., a North Carolina-based furniture manufacturer, will invest $3.5 million to acquire and renovate the recently closed A.C. Furniture Company, Inc. facility in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

The company has two facilities in North Carolina, and the new operation represents its first in Virginia. Ison will also purchase new equipment for the assembly and full production of its upholstered furniture products in Virginia, with plans to create 150 new jobs.

“Ison Furniture Manufacturing, Inc. is excited to become part of the historic Virginia furniture industry,” said Akira Ison, President of Ison Furntiure Manufacturing. “Southern Virginia is known for having some of the finest furniture craftsmen in the country, and Virginia has led the way in providing a foundation for businesses and employees to grow and prosper together. Local and state government embraced our concept of designing a COVID-conscious facility, and our family-owned business looks forward to helping over 150 employees prosper and take care of their families.”

In addition, the company’s supplier, Dogwood Global, will locate into a vacant 30,000-square-foot building onsite, investing $500,000 in new equipment and adding 45 new jobs to manufacture high-end wood tables and custom furniture frames that will be upholstered by Ison Furniture.

“Our initial plan was to open the factory in North Carolina, but Virginia was far and away a better option,” said Rodney Terry, Vice President of Business Development for Dogwood Global, LLC. “The economic environment Virginia has built over the years gave us the confidence that our financial investment would be secure. We told the economic development group that we had contracts we had to fill, and the speed moved on this project blew us away. Virginia is ready for business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Pittsylvania County, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $186,500 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Pittsylvania County with the project.

The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $86,500 from the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF). Funding and services to support Ison Furniture’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission also approved $23,500 from TROF for Dogwood Global, LLC.

“Ison Furniture’s decision to establish its newest furniture production operation in Pittsylvania County is great news for Southern Virginia, and it demonstrates the infrastructure and workforce advantages that continue to attract high-quality manufacturers,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “We thank Ison and supplier Dogwood Global for creating valuable job opportunities, and we are confident the region will deliver a sustainable talent pipeline to facilitate the growth of both companies.”

“We are pleased to welcome Ison Furniture Manufacturing and Dogwood Global to Southern Virginia,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Manufacturing is an important pillar of many communities across our Commonwealth and is key to rebuilding our economy in the wake of the ongoing global pandemic. The region’s strong history with textiles and furniture combined with the caliber of the existing upholstery and furniture-building workforce makes this project a natural fit for Pittsylvania County, and we look forward to the future success of this new operation.”

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