New jobs are coming to Lee County

BALDWYN, Miss. (WCBI)- A new furniture factory will soon be opening in Lee County, and now they are looking for new employees.

This weekend Sutter Street Manufacturing, the manufacturing division of North Carolina based Williams Sonoma, held a job fair for furniture professionals. It is the first time the company has opened a factory in North Mississippi, and Human Resources manager Phil Jackson conducted interviews.

“Sutter Street’s a great opportunity for experienced furniture manufacturers or training opportunities in the furniture industry. Sutter Street is going to be building a business that is coming back from China. That’s currently being built in China, and those manufacturing jobs are coming into North Mississippi. Being a resident of North Mississippi my entire life I think that’s a great opportunity,” said Jackson.

Jackson says Sutter Street will be immediately creating between 60 and 80 new jobs in the area, including sewers who will use these brand new machines that are ready to be installed in the factory.

He says the facility eventually in Baldwyn will employ 350 people.

“One of the big reasons for relocation into North Mississippi is the furniture experience that is in this area and the quality of the furniture manufacturers in this area. The people that we can bring in and work with we are very excited about that, and we think that is one of the primary reasons for relocating to North Mississippi,” says Jackson.

And Jackson says once the plant is up and running early next month, they will be churning out pieces like these.

“We are building a high-end, high-quality piece of furniture and it will be done right, done right on the lines. We’ll be building stationary furniture, sofas, loveseats, chairs, sectionals, for our West Am brand of furniture for our William Sonoma stores,” said Jackson.

Jackson says some support personnel is scheduled to begin on January 7th and upholstery lines will start January 14th.

Sutter Street says it hopes to reach 350 employees within the next five years.