The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Korean firm coming to Georgia

Mattress and furniture maker to hire 800-plus, invest $108 million.

- By Jeff Amy

A South Korean mattress and furniture maker will invest $108 million and hire more than 800 people in Georgia as it sets up its first American factory.

The facility is expected to open in McDonough in early 2021 and will also be a distributi­on center. Zinus USA President Ha Bong Sung and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp made the announceme­nt Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Zinus says it has grown rapidly through online sales and sales to vendors and wants to start making products in the United States. The company’s other factories are in Indonesia and China.

Henry County officials said they were eager to diversify investment, which has been focused on warehousin­g.

“I think for a county like Henry County that has a lot of distributi­on centers, we’re very excited to have some manufactur­ing,” said Kemp.

Georgia officials say Zinus is the first company entirely recruited since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“I think you’re seeing a lot of companies right now that have experience­d disruption­s in supply chain,” said Georgia Economic Developmen­t Commission­er Pat Wilson. “The opportunit­y is there for companies to come to the United States and make their products and make their products well.”

Bert Brantley, the chief operating officer of the Georgia Economic Developmen­t Department, said final terms of incentives for Zinus have not been agreed on yet. He said the state is likely to give Henry County money to improve infrastruc­ture for Zinus and is likely to subsidize job training. Henry County is likely to abate property taxes. The company will also qualify for a state income tax credit that allows the company to deduct $1,750 per job from its income taxes for five years, equal to up to half of its state income tax liability.

 ?? JEFF AMY / ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Zinus USA President Ha Bong Sung (from left), Gov. Brian Kemp and Henry County Developmen­t Authority Chairman Pierre Clements sign the agreement Tuesday at the state Capitol. The company will set up its first U.S. factory in McDonough.
JEFF AMY / ASSOCIATED PRESS Zinus USA President Ha Bong Sung (from left), Gov. Brian Kemp and Henry County Developmen­t Authority Chairman Pierre Clements sign the agreement Tuesday at the state Capitol. The company will set up its first U.S. factory in McDonough.

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