510 new jobs created with $39.5 million dollar investment for Obion County

On October the 21st Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty along with 9to5 Seating officials announced that the company will be relocating its manufacturing operations from China to Union City, TN.

The manufacturing plant will be producing a newly developed product line, targeting the retail sector under the Made in America (MIA) Seating brand. This is a new brand name, and highlights the 9to5 Seating Company’s commitment to bring manufacturing back to the United States while producing high quality made products.

Production is scheduled to commence early 2014. The new plant will be located at the Union City IDB Speculative Building at 3919 Greenfield Drive in the Northwest Regional Industrial Center.

"We are excited about the opening of the MIA Seating Company next year, and the investment this will bring to our community. An investment that is not measured only in means of financial stimulation but the impact it will have on the spirit of our local residents. Obion County has a fighting spirit, and we weathered the storm when Goodyear closed the doors in 2011, leaving many highly skilled, eager to work employees out of a job. This did not set us back long; we pulled together as a community and since achieved economic milestones such as the grand opening of The Discovery Park of America, a $100 million project, with future industry expansions highly probable.

This week, I have been meeting with MIA Seating Company officials, and their enthusiasm about the new facility is equally matched by our commitment to make the next few months pass by with the efficiency and dedication Obion County is known for."

What does this mean for the local economy? The opening of the manufacturing plant will be a $39.5 million dollars investment with 510 new jobs created over a five year period.

During the original announcement, in Nashville TN, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said “I want to congratulate 9to5 Seating on this announcement, and I thank the company for its investment and commitment to Union City and Tennessee.” Continuing to say, “Projects like these highlight all the great things happening in our state and reinforce our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

At the same press conference Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty spoke of Tennessee’s manufacturing competitiveness, central location and superb business climate. In response 9to5 Seating CEO Darius Mir said “9to5 Seating chose Union City as the home for our project because of its close proximity to our major markets, availability of talented workforce, and the generous help and assistance that the state of Tennessee, Obion County and Union City have made available to us.”

For more information, please visit www.9to5seating.com

Written by Northwest TN ED Marketing Staff. December 11th 2013

Sources: (http://tn.gov “Governor Haslam, Commissioner Hagerty Announce 9to5 Seating, Inc. to Relocate Manufacturing Operations to Union City” October 21, 2013 http://news.tn.gov/node/11243 Retrieved on: December 11, 2013)