La-Z-Boy of TennesseeDAYTON, Tenn. – Rhea County commissioners “sent a message to Monroe” Tuesday, approving a resolution to purchase property for La-Z-Boy’s local trucking needs.
County Executive George Thacker said following the unanimous vote, “This is the first time this commission has done something we can point to and say, ‘We brought these jobs here.’ We’re sending a message to Monroe [Mich., La-Z-Boy’s corporate headquarters] that we want jobs and we want La-Z-Boy here. We want expansion here.”
A week ago, La-Z-Boy General Manager Bimbo McCawley said the company-owned England trucking company needs space for its vehicles that serve the local operation. He said then that 40 local jobs already have been created anticipating this action, and another 40 to 50 positions could be created. The trucking jobs would pay $50,000 to $55,000 per year, he said.
Tuesday night, Commission Vice Chairwoman Emmaly Fisher said that while she supports the move, she questions whether Rhea County residents actually will get those jobs.
“I think this is a good idea. But I think we need to be realistic about the jobs created,” she said. “I don’t think 80 people in this county are going to apply for a CDL [commercial driver’s license] and become long-distance truckers.”