Delta Furniture Expanding into Chickasaw CO

HOULKA, Miss. (AP) – Upholstered furniture maker Delta Furniture has expanded into Chickasaw County, with plans to eventually hire 100 people.

The company, based in Pontotoc, announced Wednesday that it would invest $432,000 to set up a plant in an 80,000-square-foot facility formerly owned by Astrolounger.

The Mississippi Development Authority is giving the company $150,000 for infrastructure improvements, with the Three Rivers Planning and Development District providing a 10 percent match.

MDA spokeswoman Tammy Craft says Delta, which owns the building, has already started operations and hired 50 people. She says local authorities do not plan to grant property tax abatements to the company.

Delta, founded in 2009, also has 180 workers in Pontotoc. CEO Jeff Hamilton says the company needed more capacity to make sofas, loveseats and chairs.