Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Valendrawers Inc., a manufacturer of drawer and door components for the furniture and cabinet industry, will expand in Davidson County. The company plans to create 50 jobs and invest $1.2 million in Lexington during the next three years. The project was made possible in part by a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina is making news as a state that is helping lead the nation out of recession, and Valendrawers’ announcement is a terrific example of why,” Perdue said. “Creating jobs is my number one priority and that includes continuing to make North Carolina attractive to strong, growing manufacturing companies. Our skilled workers, custom training programs and top-rated business climate remain top draws for companies nationwide looking for the best location to succeed.”
Valendrawers, founded in 1985 in Lexington, produces a specialized wood drawer component for the North American furniture market. With the expansion the company will start production of cabinet doors using a new and advanced technology.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the annual average wage for the new jobs will be $31,580, not including benefits. The Davidson County average annual wage is $29,640.
Piero Della Valentina, President of Valendrawers, Inc. “We are very happy to have chosen North Carolina for the new door production. We have been in North Carolina for 25 years and know that we can count on a great community, in particular on skilled and dedicated workers. I want to thank all the community leaders for assisting us in putting together this project which I hope will bring a positive impact to the area.”
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
“This announcement is another affirmation for those of us in the legislature who have fought for years – and against the quibbles of skeptics – to invest in education, worker training and the state’s infrastructure,” said Rep. Hugh Holliman, of Lexington. “Those investments have helped build the first class workforce and nationally acclaimed business climate that is encouraging companies to move or expand here.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, Davidson County Economic Development Commission, Davidson County Community College and the City of Lexington.
For more information about Valendrawers, including job opportunities with the company, go to www.valendrawers.com.