Genesis Furniture Industries, makers of upholstered furniture, will open its first North Carolina facility in Mitchell County, creating 206 new jobs and investing $900,000 in the area during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $206,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

Genesis Furniture Industries, headquartered in Pontotoc, Miss., manufactures mid- to high-end upholstered furniture. The Mitchell County location will allow the company to improve its distribution and competitiveness on the East Coast. While individual wages will vary, the average weekly wage for the new jobs will be $520 plus benefits, which is higher than the Mitchell County average weekly wage of $456, not including benefits.

"Our decision to expand our operations to Spruce Pine was based not only on the available labor and production facilities, but also on the aggressive incentives provided by Mitchell County and the State of North Carolina," said Norman Schacht, vice president of operations for Genesis Furniture Industries. "It is our goal to be shipping product by the end of the year."

The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in recruiting and expanding quality jobs by providing financial assistance to businesses or industries deemed by the governor to be vital to a healthy and growing state economy. Through the use of this Fund, 17,000 jobs and $2 billion in investment have been created since 2001.