Rooms To Go to open Harnett distribution center

The company expects to invest $40 million in the 1.1 million-square-foot operation, which will serve as the primary distribution and processing center for online deliveries to Rooms To Go customers throughout the eastern United States. Officials said they also hope the showroom will become a convenient shopping location for Interstate 95 travelers.

“Our goal was to find a location that provides great visibility and exposure on I-95, while allowing convenient transportation access for receiving merchandise and delivering to our customers," President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Buckley said in a statement.

Rooms To Go, which has about 150 stores in 10 states, already employs more than 180 people in North Carolina. The average annual wages for the new jobs will be $28,000, plus benefits.

The company also expects to use about 100 people as independent contractors for home delivery of merchandise from the warehouse.

Rooms To Go qualified for a grant of up to $200,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, which helps attract business projects to the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job and investment targets to obtain grant funds.