Posted December 13, 2017

 

BRISTOL, Va. – American Merchant, Inc., a subsidiary of Merchant House International Ltd, a Hong Kong-based designer and manufacturer of home textiles, seasonal décor products and leather shoes, will invest $19.9 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation here, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe today announced.

 

The new textiles plant will expand the company’s home décor products division into the U.S. Virginia successfully competed against Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island and South Carolina for the project, which will create 405 new jobs.

 

“It's an honor to welcome American Merchant to Southwest Virginia and to our impressive roster of international manufacturing companies, which represent more than $118 billion in direct economic output across the Commonwealth,” said Gov. McAuliffe, speaking at the event. “Global companies expanding into the U.S. market continue to choose Virginia as their entry point, demonstrating the advantages of our strategic location, business-friendly environment and robust talent pipeline. The advanced manufacturing industry, which is one of the pillars of our efforts to build a new Virginia economy, is gaining momentum in the Commonwealth. I congratulate the City of Bristol and thank American Merchant for bringing hundreds of jobs and this significant investment.”

 

American Merchant, Inc., a subsidiary of Merchant House International Ltd. (MHI Group), is a newly formed company that will manufacture embroidered hand and bath towels. Merchant House International, listed on the Australia Securities Exchange, operates in three segments: home textiles, footwear manufacturing and footwear trading.

 

The company offers kitchen items, table top products, kitchen rugs and decorative pillows; as well as footwear products, including work boots, safety toe boots, waterproof footwear security boots, motorcycle boots, hunting boots and farm and ranch western boots for men. It also engages in the export trading of its work boots and safety shoes.

 

The company sells its products in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and China. Merchant House International is bringing textiles back to America due to plentiful cotton supplies, cleaner and more sustainable energy and lower tax rates than China, according to a release.

 

“The addition of over 400 new jobs and the revitalization of a former manufacturing facility is a big win for the City of Bristol, and we welcome American Merchant as Virginia's new corporate partner,” said Va. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore. “Our success in attracting international companies, of which more than 700 are located in Virginia, and major advanced manufacturing projects is evidence of our competitiveness on a global level, and the Commonwealth has emerged as a leader in this key industry. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with American Merchant.”

 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Bristol to secure the project for Virginia. Gov. McAuliffe approved a $300,000 grant from the Commonwealth Opportunity Fund to assist the city with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $590,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. American Merchant is eligible to receive additional grants and state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program and Appalachian Regional Commission, both administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.  Funding services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. 

 

Source: Office of the Virginia Governor