Furniture Manufacturer Expanding in Mississippi

Southern Motion Inc., a Pontotoc, Miss.-based reclining furniture manufacturer, is expanding its Mississippi operations to accommodate an increase in production.

As part of the $7 million expansion, the company will construct a new 180,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its current operation in Pontotoc, according to the Mississippi Development Authority.

The expansion will create a minimum of 200 new jobs over the next two years, with the potential to create a total of 400 new jobs over the next five years, according to the agency. Southern Motion currently employs 701 workers with facilities covering 400,000 square feet.

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) worked closely with Southern Motion and local officials to help facilitate the expansion, according to the agency. The agency provided assistance to the county through the Development Infrastructure Program and the Rural Impact Fund Program to help with public infrastructure improvements.

The Mississippi Development Authority and Pontotoc County Board of Supervisors helped make this expansion a reality, said Guy Lipscomb, Southern Motion chairman and CEO. We appreciate the time and effort that our public officials have devoted to this project.

In early 2010, Southern Motion officials announced an expansion that added 70 new jobs and new manufacturing lines at the Pontotoc facility. MDA certified the company for the 70 jobs through the Existing Manufacturers Job Rebate Program.

In early 2009, the company launched an expansion that added 65 new jobs, new lines and new equipment. For that expansion, MDA provided work force training assistance and guidance regarding state tax incentives available to the company, according to the agency.