ELKIN — Vaughan-Bassett gave some good news to the tri-county area.

The furniture company announced yesterday that it will reopen a portion of its Elkin plant later this month. This would employ 40 workers by the end of September at its factory and distribution center and will increase overall employment in its Elkin to about 50 by the end of November.

The company mothballed the factory in January, citing lack of orders and the economic downturn as the catalyst for the closure.

“This is good news and we are excited to be reopening in Elkin,” Doug Bassett, Vaughan-Bassett executive vice president, said. “The positions are for factory personnel at our Elkin plant. We do not have plans to reopen the offices in Elkin at this time.”

Those interested in applying for jobs are asked to call 835-1711 for information on submitting applications.

“We urge people to contact us immediately for information on applying for these positions,” Doug Bassett said.

Wyatt Bassett, president and CEO of Vaughan-Bassett, said that the company’s incoming orders are outpacing production at its Galax, Va., factory, making the expansion necessary.

“We’re pleased that our business is strong enough to warrant this move,” Bassett said.

When Vaughan-Bassett “mothballed” the Elkin factory in January, it eliminated approximately 400 jobs, which was a serious economic blow to Elkin. The company, however, chose not to sell the factory or its machinery, to preserve the option of reopening the factory when business conditions improved.

“Our first step will be to assemble and finish selected pieces from all our collections at our Elkin factory. We will also machine some parts in our Elkin Machine Room to supplement our parts-making production in Galax,” Bassett said.

Some of the jobs will be filled by Vaughan-Bassett employees from the Elkin area who were transferred to Galax when the Elkin plant shut down. These employees have been making an 80-mile round trip commute for most of this year. Many of the new jobs, however, will require new hiring for the Elkin factory.

In addition, the Galax factory will need to fill job openings created by the people transferring from Galax back to Elkin.

“This move indicates that Vaughan-Bassett remains committed to producing its products in the United States and that our strategy is working,” said Bassett. “It is also vital that we increase production in order to continue to meet our commitment of delivering VBX (Vaughan-Bassett Express) suites in seven days or less to the eastern two-thirds of the United States.”

Earlier this year, Vaughan-Bassett announced an agreement with Virginia to add 100 jobs in its Galax plant during the next three years. The company has already added 65 jobs in Galax in the last seven months.

Vaughan-Bassett is the largest wooden adult bedroom manufacturer in the United States, with 2008 sales of more than $98 million. More than 97 percent of its bedroom pieces are manufactured in the U.S. and less than 3 percent are imported. As of August, Vaughan-Bassett employed approximately 680 workers throughout its facilities in Galax and Elkin. The company consists of the Elkin factory, the distribution center on Popular Springs Road in Elkin, and a distribution center, factory and offices in Galax.

“They’ve kept their word and did exactly what they said they would do,” Elkin Mayor Lestine Hutchens said. “Their (Vaughan-Bassett) hope was to reopen the plant when the demand for their product increased.

“I’m very pleased that they kept the plant maintained,” she said. “It will be wonderful to see cars in the parking lot of the plant and to know that people are working. I think it will be encouraging for everyone.”