BALDWYN, Ms. – Motion furniture manufacturer Southern Motion will soon open a new factory in Baldwyn, Mississippi, investing $20 million and creating 600 jobs. The company already employs 1,250 at its main site – in nearby Pontotoc – and 250 at a separate site in Baldwyn.

The property, for which Southern Motion offered $9.3 million, includes a 650,000 sq. ft. warehouse and distribution facility, and a 28,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. Also on the property is an 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters building, which the company is looking to sale or lease.

Southern Motion CEO Roger Bland gave the announcement Wednesday with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, the Mississippi Development Authority, and other state officials present. The company will add 12 production lines to the facility over the next 5 years.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to expand our business in Baldwyn. This would not have been possible without the Governor and the Mississippi Development Authority’s commitment to grow our existing industries in the state,” said Bland.

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance with a $2 million grant for building modifications. Lee County is providing assistance with ad valorem tax exemptions.

“I appreciate the team at Southern Motion for once again investing in its operations and for bringing hundreds of new jobs to the Northeast Mississippi region,” said Governor Bryant. “Southern Motion is the definition of a homegrown company finding its competitive edge in our state, and I wish the company many more years of success.”

Southern Motion has begun renovating the facility and is expected to be finished by the end of 2016. The 250 employees at the current Baldwyn site will be transferred to the new plant by January. The company will then begin hiring for new positions.

The company said it was able to expand because of double-digit growth in consecutive years.