Source:   PRESS RELEASE, 4/20/11

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Geiger International, a manufacturer of premium wood case goods, seating and occasional furniture for commercial and residential interiors, will expand in North Carolina with a new facility in Burke County.  The company plans to create 64 jobs and invest $3.7 million during the next three years in Hildebran.  The project was made possible in part by a $128,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

“North Carolina is known worldwide for manufacturing top quality furniture for the past century,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “Geiger International recognizes that distinguished history, the importance of the furniture industry to the Hickory area and the top-ranked business climate we have built in North Carolina. Their expansion is great news for a community hit hard by the recession, and it is a validation of the policies we put in place to attract jobs to our state.”

Geiger International is a subsidiary of Herman Miller, Inc., a globally recognized leader and innovator in furnishings for the office, home, healing and learning environments.  The company’s products are distributed in more than 140 countries and often sold through the architectural and design community.  Geiger’s current facility in Hickory has 24 full-time employees.  This project will incorporate the Hickory operation in an updated and larger facility in Hildebran.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $33,754 plus benefits.  The average wage for a manufacturing associate will be $30,981 plus benefits.  The Burke County average annual wage is $30,784.

“By establishing new and expanded operations in Hildebran we will create greater operational efficiencies and reduce our costs, enabling us to better serve our customers as we grow our business and create new opportunity for employees,” said Steve Gane, President of Geiger.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state.  Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate.  Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been created since 2001.  Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Burke County, the Town of Hildebran, Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Committee of 100, Duke Energy, and Burke Development Inc.

For more information about Geiger International, including job opportunities, go to www.geigerintl.com.