LINCOLNTON, NC - Lincolnton Furniture was given the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development, Outstanding Employer category.

Lincolnton Furniture was cited by the governor for its part in the growing trend of reshoring jobs back to America.

The specialty furniture maker re-started operations at a once vacant plant. CEO Bruce Cochrane, whose family manufactured furniture in North Carolina and alter sold the business, worked as a consultant in Asia in the furniture industry for several years and decided the time was right to start his own furniture company back in the United States, in North Carolina, in the same plant.

Lincolnton Furniture opened its doors in December 2011 with a workforce of 60 workers and expects to expand to 130 workers by the end of 2012.

Linicolnton was one of several companies, including hardware manufacturer Blum, cited by Governor Bev Perdue for Excellence in Workforce Development.