ARCHDALE, NC – High Point-based Paul Brayton Designs said it will relocate its upholstered furniture manufacturing plant to the former Bobby Labonte building in Archdale, NC. Plans call for the contract and hospitality furniture manufacturer to add 100 jobs over the next two years; it had 12 employees in March.

The company is awaiting approval on an application to the NC Rural Economic Development Center for a building reuse and restoration grant for the Labonte building. According to the Randolph County Economic Development Corp., Paul Brayton Designs is requesting $136,141 through a building reuse and restoration grant, with a city match of $4,084. As part of the grant, the company will invest $132,057. Among the projects planned is to renovate the the interior for production space, and to add a loading dock with a lift and an elevator for handicapped access to the office area.

The Paul Brayton Designs Furniture Collection made its debut at the June NeoCon with an 11-items seating series, including the Tamino leather lounge chair, Innsbruck sofa with adjustable backs, and sled-base Vienna chair.

This is owner Paul Brayton’s second independent furniture venture in the contract furniture arena. In 1987 he sold his Brayton International brand to Steelcase, and by 1991 had been appointed president and CEO of the Steelcase Design Partnership, overseeing Brayton International/Coalesse, as well as Vecta, Metro, Atelier Interional, Tex Fabrics, Details and Stow Davis. He left Steelcase in 1993 to start Paul Brayton Designs, a textile and leather collections company focused on the hospitality, healthcare and contract markets.