BERNE, IN - Residential furniture maker Smith Brothers said it will create up to 266 new jobs by 2021 as the company ramps up production of its fabric and leather upholstered furniture. The Berne, IN-based manufacturer has invested $4.5 million in the project, which includes a 110,000-square-foot addition to its existing 215,000-square foot facility.

“Smith Brothers has been blessed with amazing growth over the last few years because of our constant pursuit of increased quality, customer service, speed of delivery and product selection,” Smith Brothers President & CEO Steve Lehman said in a statement. “We have a talented team of dedicated employees who never let up in those endeavors. We continue to expand our location in Indiana because Indiana continues to provide us with high caliber individuals that possess a strong work ethic.”

The two-story addition was completed last November. Funding for the project has been aided by $1.75 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The City of Berne and Adams County also aided the project.

“Smith Brothers is a true Hoosier success story,”  Governor Mike Pence said in a statement. “Founded with humble roots, Smith Brothers today operates a major enterprise, selling Hoosier-built furniture across the country. Indiana is proud to be home to Smith Brothers and other homegrown companies making it big in a business climate built for their growth.”

Founded in 1926, Smith Brothers employs more than 420 people. The custom manufacturer says its sales have grown more than 190 percent since 2009.