Whitehall, WI – Governor Walker joined Ashley Furniture for the ribbon cutting of the company’s 80,000 square-foot addition to its reclining (motion) upholstery production facility in Whitehall.

“Ashley Furniture is an iconic Wisconsin brand, and I am proud of the continued success they’ve achieved by providing quality products, thanks to their hard-working, skilled workforce,” Governor Walker said. “Manufacturing is a vital component of our economy, and we will continue to cut taxes, streamline regulations, and invest in developing our workforce, so companies like Ashley can continue to lead our state’s economic recovery.”

Since January 2012, Ashley Furniture has added about 300 employees in Whitehall and Arcadia, including 100 new jobs at the expanded Midwest Motion Upholstery Facility. The $13 million expansion project doubled the size of the original facility, to 160,000 square-feet.

Todd Wanek, President and CEO of Ashley, stated, “I am proud of the job our team has done integrating new production equipment, training and developing new employees, and keeping this facility competitive by improving efficiencies and increasing the quality of the upholstered products that are produced in Whitehall. Governor Walker has supported this expansion from the beginning and we appreciate his business approach of working with companies, like Ashley, to expand and grow in Wisconsin.”

A Better Business Climate – In 2009, just four percent of job creators thought Wisconsin was headed in the right direction. Under Governor Walker’s leadership, Wisconsin has changed the opinion of business leaders; now 95 percent of employers believe Wisconsin is headed in the right direction. This shift in confidence is also reflected in the number of jobs and new businesses that have been created. Before taking office, Wisconsin had lost more than 27,000 businesses and 133,000 jobs. More than 100,000 jobs have been created, as well as 15,000 net new businesses.

This work will continue with the passage of the Governor’s Blueprint for Prosperity, which fuels Wisconsin’s economy with $500 million in property and income tax relief, and an additional $35 million investment in worker training.

Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is the largest furniture manufacturer in North America and one of the largest in the world. Established in 1945, Ashley offers one of the industry’s broadest product assortments to retail partners in 123 countries.

Ashley Furniture HomeStore is the #1 selling furniture store brand in the world with more than 500 locations. The retailer is an exclusive provider of furniture from Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., the largest furniture manufacturer in North America and one of the largest in the world.