ADVANCE, NC - Ashley Furniture has been granted permission to move forward on Phase 2 of its $80 million manufacturing and distribution complex in Davie County, North Carolina. The 680-acre complex had been on hold for months following the discovery of 4 acres of wetlands on the land.

According to the Winston-Salem Journal, Ashley received a temporary, proffered permit March 28 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build on or near wetlands. A final permit is under review and awaiting signatures, with the groundbreaking ceremony is set to take place on April 17.

Ashley Furniture Chairman Ron Wanek told the Journal the wetlands delay has cost the furniture manufacturer approximately $1 million each month, as well as "missed business opportunities."  "This has all taken longer than we anticipated with the process, such as dealing with changes in state building codes and the wetlands issue," Wanek said.

According to the Journal, an initial site inspection did not show the wetlands, which were found on 320-acres of property Ashley purchased for $10.4 million back in August 2012 and which is adjacent to the 360-acre parcel of land Ashley had negotiated with the Davie County Economic Development Commission.

It was in April 2012 that Ashley Furniture first announced plans to build a large-scale furniture factory and distribution center  in Davie County. When completed, 550 jobs will be created.