Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced Monday that the 9to5 Seating Company will relocate manufacturing operations to Union City and create upwards of 500 jobs.
The announcement is welcome news for the community that has been spending the last few years trying to rebuild a manufacturing economy after Goodyear Tire shutdown a 1,800 employee plant in 2011.
The move represents an investment of $39.5 million for the ergonomic seating company. Governor Haslam thanked the company for its investment and said the decision reinforces his goal of making Tennessee a location for high quality jobs.
Obion County Economic Development Director Lindsey Frilling said 9to5 will move manufacturing from its facility in China to Union City's Northwest Regional Industrial Center. Frilling said the boost to employment will be significant.
"Anticipated jobs at the end of 2014 is about 73 jobs," said Frilling. "And then from then on, up until five years, you're looking to get it up to 510 jobs."
9-to-5 will move its China-based manufacturing facility to Union City’s IDB Speculative Building in the Northwest Regional Industrial Center. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2014, at which time the company will introduce the new product line Made In America Seating.
