BALDWYN, Miss. (WTVA) - H.M. Richards, Inc., in Baldwyn joined local and state leaders for a ground breaking ceremony Friday.
The upholstered furniture manufacturer says the expansion to its existing facility represents a $1.5 million dollar capital investment and will add 86,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space.
Joey Tarrant with H.M. Richards said, "This is our seventh expansion in 15 years of business. We're very pleased to announce that. It's about 15 years to the day of when we started."
H.M. Richards started in 1997 in Saltillo.
It moved to the Harry A. Martin North Lee Industrial Complex two years later.
Although the furniture industry has been through some rough times lately, these company leaders see a stronger housing market as a positive sign of things to come for their industry.
Tarrant said, "We just want to have the flexibility to meet those needs because we do feel like there's going to be a growing market for upholstered furniture. Obviously, for furniture that's made in the United States."
Already, the company has added two production lines in the last nine months which brings the current number of employees to 650.
That number is expected to grow by 115 over the next two years.
Officials say this investment in existing industry also has other industries looking at Lee County.
Community Development Foundation Chairman David Copenhaver said, "Anytime you have an existing business expand and announce growth, all businesses including ones in Lee County and ones looking for new locations also recognize that."
H.M. Richards also recognized some of their longtime employees at Friday's ceremony.
