GUILDFORD COUNTY — Prepac Manufacturing, a furniture manufacturer headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, is building a new 260,000-square-foot factory in Whitsett, Guildford County.

The uptick: $27.1 million in capital investment and roughly 200 new jobs added to the local economy.

“Even in a pandemic, North Carolina continues to grow jobs with companies like Prepac because of our great workforce, strategic location and reliable transportation,” said Governor Roy Cooper, in a statement.

Prepac Manufacturing is one of the largest producers of ready-to-assemble furniture in North America. The company said its new facility in North Carolina will help the company expand its markets and expedite shipments to consumers located along the entire eastern seaboard.

“When we started evaluating potential locations for our new east coast factory there were several good options for us to consider” said Jim Mathison, President of Prepac Manufacturing, in a statement. “Ultimately, we chose North Carolina and specifically Guilford County due to several key factors including the availability of a highly skilled workforce, easy access to major markets, and compelling State and County resources to help ensure that this project is successful given these uncertain times.” Mathison continued, “We look forward to expanding our North American Manufacturing base in Guilford County and are excited to be moving forward with this project.”

“North Carolina is the leading manufacturing state in the southeast United States, with nearly 20 percent of our economic output coming from this important sector,” added North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “It’s good to see innovative companies like Prepac Manufacturing choose our state for the next stage of their growth.”

Prepac Manufacturing project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of 12 years, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $376.3 million. The agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $2,106,000, spread over 12 years.

Prepac Manufacturing’s JDIG award is contingent on final approval of all local government incentives associated with the project.