China-based tile and ceramics company Wonderful Group has selected Lebanon, TN as the site of its first U.S. operations. In an effort to expand its presence in the world market, the company will invest $150 million in the facility and create 220 new jobs in Wilson County, the largest-ever capital investment made in Tennessee by a Chinese company.
“We are pleased and proud to invest in the city of Lebanon and Middle Tennessee,” said Wonderful Group CEO Jianping Huang. “With our U.S. based management team, we will expand our broad existing manufacturing footprint internationally to produce high quality porcelain tile. We appreciate the support received from the state, county and city and look forward to bringing more jobs in the ceramic tile industry to Tennessee.”
The Lebanon manufacturing facility will be located in the Cherry Farm Industrial Site. Construction of the 500,000-square-foot plant is currently underway and is expected to be operational in late 2016.
“We want to welcome Wonderful Group to Tennessee and thank the company for choosing our state as the location for its first U.S. operations,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. “Tennessee competes on a global level and when a company decides to expand its business here it speaks volumes to our business-friendly environment and skilled workforce. Companies can choose to do business anywhere in the world, and today’s announcement is another step toward making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“This is great news not only for Lebanon and Wilson County, but for the entire state. Wonderful Group’s commitment represents the largest capital investment made by a Chinese-based project in the state’s history,” said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. “We are honored that Tennessee will be home to Wonderful Group’s first manufacturing facility in the country, and I look forward to building a strong relationship with the company in the years to come.”
“I welcome Wonderful Group to the community. Their decision is further confirmation of the many economic and lifestyle advantages of the community,” said G.C. Hixson, executive director of the Joint Economic Development Agency. “This announcement would not have been possible without the work of our economic partners which include the Wilson County Commission, the city of Lebanon, the state of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority.”
