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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Kellex Seating Will Expand It Manufacturing Center In Tupelo, Mississippi

04/20/2015
Kellex Seating, a manufacturer of commercial upholstered seating, is expanding into The Magnolia State by locating operations in the former Tupelo Manufacturing facility in Tupelo, Mississippi. The project represents a $600,000 corporate investment and will create 75 jobs.

“We chose Tupelo as the site of our newest manufacturing facility because we know that the local workforce is strong and experienced,” said Kellex COO Doug Fawcett. “We want to give furniture artisans in this area the opportunity to be part of a thriving organization where their efforts are appreciated by colleagues and customers alike. We also want to contribute to the area’s economy by creating jobs and supporting local business partners.”

Fawcett also said Tupelo also offers logistical advantages, such as facilitating access to West Coast markets.

“The past several months have seen unprecedented growth in demand for furnishings, particularly in the hotel and timeshare segments,” said Kellex President Chris Rice. “Our new Tupelo facility ensures that we will be able to meet all of our existing and future commitments on time. Our planned expansions will enable us completely satisfy our present customers, and enable further expansion in the future. Our goals of improving lead times and increasing capacity have driven our decision to expand, once again.”

“The combination of our North Carolina and Mississippi plants is ideal from the customer’s perspective,” he said. “We will have the capabilities and resources to broaden our product offering and to fulfill orders from across the nation with outstanding efficiency.”

As an incentive, the Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project for infrastructure improvements. The city of Tupelo assisted with the project, as well.

“MDA is glad to welcome Kellex Seating as the newest business partner to the state of Mississippi and looks forward to watching the company thrive in Lee County,” said MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen. “We thank our economic development partners at the city of Tupelo and the Community Development Foundation for their hard work in bringing this great company to Mississippi.”

“I appreciate the Kellex team for selecting Tupelo as their location to pursue new growth and investment opportunities,” Governor Phil Bryant said. “Mississippi’s furniture manufacturing sector has been extremely prosperous in recent years, and I know Kellex will find the competitive advantages needed for success in today’s demanding economy in north Mississippi.”

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