Governor Kaine Announces Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company Expansion in Galax

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company will invest $2.15 million to expand its manufacturing facility in the City of Galax. The project will create 100 new jobs and save 500 existing jobs. Virginia successfully competed against locations in North Carolina and Asia for the project.

“I am thrilled to announce the expansion of an important Virginia-founded company,” Governor Kaine said. “Vaughan-Bassett Furniture is the largest manufacturer of wooden adult bedroom furniture in the U.S. and began in Galax in 1919. The company has thrived in the Commonwealth for nine decades and will continue to be a significant employer and corporate partner in Southwest Virginia.”

Based in Galax, Virginia, Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company manufactures bedroom and dining room furniture. In 1919, B.C. Vaughan and J.D. Bassett, Sr. both founded the company in Galax. Employing more than 574 people in the Galax facility, the company is proud that more than 95 percent of its furniture is crafted in the United States by American employees.

“We believe our employees here in Galax represent the finest furniture workforce in the world,” said Wyatt P.E. Bassett, President and CEO of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company. “We are committed to growing our company, and that means we will need both more machines and more employees here in Galax to operate them. We appreciate the help of the Governor, the city of Galax, the Virginia Tobacco Commission and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in helping us to make our goals a reality.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Galax and Virginia’s aCorridor to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved a $75,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Galax with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $200,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“Vaughan-Bassett Furniture has been a cornerstone of the economy of the Twin Counties region for 90 years, and we are very happy with their decision to remain committed to Galax,” said C.M. Mitchell, Mayor of Galax. “The city stands firm in our commitment to help businesses large and small succeed and to create new employment opportunities for our citizens.”

“On behalf of the Virginia Tobacco Commission we congratulate the City of Galax on a great win for the Southwest Virginia region,” said Charles R. Hawkins, Chairman, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “We are pleased that the Tobacco Commission could offer assistance to ensure that Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company will stay and thrive in Virginia.”