JAMESTOWN – A manufacturing company that employs more than 400 residents will not relocate its local warehouse operations after being sold Monday according to Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello.
Bush Industries, which produces affordable furniture for home and office spaces, was acquired by Lorraine Capital.
“Every indication I have is that there is no threat there,” said Borrello when asked whether the transaction meant the company was leaving Jamestown.
Borrello said he visited Bush Industries as part of his 100 business in 100 day pledge. He said the company, at least internally, has a solid core.
“They (Lorraine Capital) is a Western New York company with a track record of keeping businesses in our local area,” Borrello said.
The sale of Bush did not come as a surprise to Borrello.
“I visited them as part of my 100 businesses in 100 days a few months ago,” he said. “Jim Garde said he was looking to sell the company as soon as they became profitable again.”
Garde took over at Bush Industries 12 years ago and is credited with making the company profitable after a thorough upgrade of the company’s finance and accounting divisions.
“At this point, I fell confident that the company is staying in place,” said Borrello.
