Lithuania’s SBA Home has selected a 500,000-square-foot factory located at 187 Gildan Drive in the Davie Industrial Center in Mocksville, North Carolina, as the site for its first U.S. furniture manufacturing facility.
Mocksville Welcomes SBA Home’s $50.8 Million Investment
SBA Home has selected Mocksville, North Carolina, as the site for its first U.S. furniture manufacturing facility. The project, expected to generate 250 jobs by the end of 2029, represents a $50.8 million investment in a 500,000-square-foot factory located at 187 Gildan Drive in the Davie Industrial Center.
The announcement follows the award of a nearly $1.9 million state economic development grant from the North Carolina Economic Investment Committee. In addition, Mocksville and Davie County offered incentive packages totaling approximately $800,000 to secure the deal. SBA Group’s decision came after evaluating numerous potential sites, with Cherokee County, South Carolina, being the primary competitor.
“SBA Home has made a great decision to enter the U.S. market in Davie County,” said Governor Cooper in today’s announcment. “With more than 800 furniture companies, North Carolina’s reputation as the furniture capital of the world attracts growing manufacturers that need a world-class workforce to meet the demand of their global customers.”
“We are excited to launch our journey in the United States, starting in North Carolina—a state renowned for its dynamic business environment and exceptional opportunities for globally growing companies,” explained Jurgita Radzevičė, CEO of SBA Home. “With its wide talent pool, excellent infrastructure and logistics, support from the State, combined with SBA Home’s modern manufacturing expertise and humancentric organizational culture, we are confident this venture will create high-quality jobs and have a positive impact on the region. We believe it further bolsters the partnership between Lithuania and the United States, paving the way for innovation and shared success.”
In an earlier statement, Radzevičė shared that the southeastern United States was chosen due to shorter supply chains and proximity to key suppliers such as Kronospan, Aurauco, and Egger. “Our location is right in the middle of the supply triangle,” she explained.
Why Mocksville?
According to Davie County Economic Development Commission President Terry Bralley, SBA Group’s choice was driven by several key factors:
- Availability of skilled labor
- Favorable operational costs
- A supportive business climate
- Competitive discretionary incentives
“A ready-to-upfit building, a strong workforce, and an efficient supply chain in the Southeast were critical in the decision,” shared Bralley. “Without our spec building program and private investors, we would have never had a chance at this project.”
“We have been working on this project for about a year. I think this project fits nicely in the county because it’s highly automated with incredible technology and is a manufacturing widget for the largest furniture retailers in the world. I also believe that when you are dealing with an international company and they have a positive experience in your community they will tell their friends.”
Davie County Manager Brian Barnett added that this announcement demonstrates how working great together as a community attracts economic development. “Under the leadership and guidance of Terry Bralley and Economic Development, the county, municipalities, school system, and business community all came together to make this happen! We are thrilled for this opportunity to grow our business community.”
High-Paying Jobs and Robotic Operations
The new factory will create jobs with an average annual wage of $53,470, exceeding the county’s average salary. New positions created by the company include manufacturing and warehousing positions, as well as administrative and managerial roles. These new jobs could create a potential payroll impact of more than $13.3 million each year for the region.
SBA Home has emphasized that the facility will be “highly robotized,” aligning with its cutting-edge manufacturing approach in Lithuania. The company plans to produce approximately 380 pieces of furniture per hour at the Mocksville site.
SBA Home: A Global Leader in Furniture Manufacturing
SBA Home is the largest division of SBA Grupe UAB, a Lithuanian conglomerate, that exports furniture to 50 different countries around the world. After more than 20 years, the company has grown to employ more than 3,000 employees in four manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Lithuania. The division exports 800 products, including wood veneer furniture, cabinets, sofas, and armchairs, to 50 countries. In 2022, its furniture sales reached €389 million ($411 million). The division’s primary buyer is IKEA. Currently, the only IKEA store in North Carolina is located in Charlotte.
In November, Radzevice stated that the southeastern United States was chosen due to shorter supply chains and proximity to key suppliers such as Kronospan, Aurauco, and Egger. “Our location is right in the middle of the supply triangle,” she explained.
Economic Impact and JDIG Incentives
SBA Home’s project in North Carolina, which will officially be executed through a newly formed subsidiary company, will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $435.8 million. Using a formula that takes into account $50 million of the company’s investment as well as the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,421,250, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the Departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets.
The project’s projected return on investment of public dollars is 51 percent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost to the state, the state receives $1.51 in state revenue. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.
Support for Rural Communities
Because SBA chose a site in Davie County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 3, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving $473,375 into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 3 county such as Davie, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps more economically challenged communities elsewhere in the state.
Local and State Leaders Celebrate
“We are excited to welcome SBA Home to the Town of Mocksville,” said N.C. Representative Julia C. Howard. “Our transportation infrastructure and central East Coast location are great advantages for the company as it expands its global footprint in the United States.”
“The Town of Mocksville welcomes SBA to our business community. Our business and community leaders have been working hard to pave the way for SBA to call Mocksville home,” said Mocksville Mayor Will Marklin. “Thank you to all the folks that stepped up to the plate and built a bridge between Mocksville and Lithuania. We look forward to years of partnership in the future.”
Mocksville: A Thriving Hub for Industry
The Davie Industrial Center, developed by Windsor Commercial of Greensboro, is already home to Hayward Holdings, which established a distribution center in 2021. The addition of SBA Group further cements Mocksville’s status as a growing hub for manufacturing and industry in North Carolina.
Looking Ahead
The Mocksville factory is expected to begin production in October 2025, with 30 Lithuanian professionals overseeing the setup and operations. Equipment for the facility has already been purchased and is being shipped from Germany.
As Mocksville prepares to welcome SBA Home, the town continues to position itself as a prime destination for global businesses seeking a skilled workforce and robust infrastructure. This partnership not only brings economic growth but also strengthens the town’s role in the international manufacturing landscape.
Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Davidson-Davie Community College, Davie County, Davie County Schools, Davie County Economic Development, and the Town of Mocksville.
