VALDESE, N.C.,None — A local town full of shuttered factories is getting a renewed sense of hope as a furniture manufacturer plans to bring 200 more jobs to Burke County.
There are already 140 people working at Kellex Furniture in Valdese, but those numbers could more than double in the next two years.
Jerry Dellinger says he is one of the fortunate ones. He had lost his job in furniture four months before landing a job at Kellex as an upholsterer.
"It's really hard because there's not that many furniture jobs left. It's come back a little bit but not a whole lot," Dellinger said.
What's even more surprising is that the company is adding to its work force when the industry has lost 16,000 jobs during the last 10 years in the Hickory metro area alone.
Channel 9 asked how Kellex, which is expanding into home furnishing, can compete with the overseas market.
Charles Rice, who owns part of the company, showed Channel 9 some of their new line. He said not only is there an experienced work force here but companies are realizing another advantage.
"One thing this country has between innovation and hard work, it still has speed on its side. Our ability to get products delivered, high valued product to consumers is our competitive differential," Rice said.
The news comes at a time when Burke County's most recent unemployment numbers are 13 percent.
Betty Huffman is a seamstress at the company. She had been out of work for nine months said the news of jobs gives people in the area hope.
"They called me one day, and I was just tickled to death, so here I am on cloud nine," Huffman said.
The company is eligible for state grants because of the expansion, but that money is performance-based requiring them to make the hires first.
Kellex is hiring for those 200 positions right away. Apply in person at 501 Hoyle Street in Valdese.