(Photo from A&W Custom Furniture website)
- As part of the $2.2 million expansion, the Mississippi Development Authority said A&W will purchase the manufacturing facilities it currently leases and add a fourth production line.
The Mississippi Development Authority announced Friday that A&W Custom Furniture is expanding its operations in Okolona.
A&W Custom Furniture was founded in 2023 by industry veterans Craig Wedel and Andy Smith. The company manufactures upholstered furniture, specializing in sofas and sectionals and operates three production lines at its Chickasaw County facility.
The Mississippi expansion will add 20 jobs to its current employment total of 72 workers.
A&W Custom Furniture Owner Craig Wedel said the company is excited to see what the future holds in Okolona.
“So far, it has been great, and we have accomplished a lot. We are grateful for our community and everyone that has supported us on this journey,” Wedel said.
As part of the $2.2 million expansion, MDA said A&W will purchase the manufacturing facilities it currently leases and add a fourth production line. The facility improvements and new equipment are expected to increase production capacity and support continued sales growth.
Of the announcement, Governor Tate Reeves said A&W Custom Furniture’s growth is another great Mississippi success story.
“In just a few short years, this homegrown company has built a strong business and become an important part of the Okolona community,” Reeves said. “Furniture manufacturing has long been an important part of Mississippi’s economy by supporting jobs and communities across our state. With this expansion, A&W Custom Furniture is building on that legacy and creating even more opportunities for the people of Chickasaw County.”
The Mississippi Development Authority noted that the state agency is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, while Chickasaw County and the city of Okolona are also supporting the project.
“A&W Custom Furniture has accomplished a lot in just three years, and this expansion shows the company is ready to do even more in Okolona. When a manufacturer is ready to grow, speed matters, and Mississippi has the workforce and partners to help A&W put new investment to work and take on more business fast. MDA is proud to support this expansion and help get more Mississippi-made furniture into the marketplace,” said Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork.
