Ashley Moves Ahead With Credits

So far, no jobs appear to be in jeopardy with a surprise move by

Arcadia-based Ashley furniture.  The company is opting out of six million dollars in tax credits from the state that were meant to offset costs for a big flood control project at its factory in Arcadia.  Those credits were the center of controversy last year because they were coming with no job guarantees from Ashley in return.  The company says the scope of the project has just made it too expensive but hasn’t suggested the lack of investment means anything for the future of employment at the factory in Arcadia.   Meanwhile, Ashley is also returning about a quarter million dollars in job tax credits for an expansion in Whitehall.  The company had hoped to add a couple hundred jobs there, but have only found about ninety people who want the work.