ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — East Fork Pottery plans to invest $2.5 million to expand its Asheville production facilities, a move expected to double output and add 40 engineering and skilled manufacturing jobs over the next three years, the company and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County announced Friday.
The new positions will pay an average wage of $26 per hour. The expansion will also support more than 125 existing jobs as East Fork increases production of its ceramic dinnerware and home goods.
Founded in 2010 by Alex Matisse in Madison County, East Fork has grown into a Certified B Corporation producing more than 750,000 pieces annually. The company is known for its community investment efforts, including more than $2 million donated to local grassroots organizations since 2017, and its participation in fair-chance hiring programs.
“We’re excited to deepen our commitment to the Asheville community through this investment,” Matisse said in a statement. “There is a long tradition of pottery making in North Carolina, and we are proud to continue that legacy while providing a living wage.”
The expansion comes as the region’s creative economy continues to grow. In 2024, creative sector jobs in Buncombe County topped 9,000 and generated more than $1.1 billion in revenue, according to the EDC.
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer praised East Fork’s announcement, saying the company plays “an essential role in rebuilding our creative economy and supporting a resilient future in Western North Carolina.”
Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards said the project reinforces the county’s strategy to grow high-wage creative and advanced manufacturing jobs. “These expansions strengthen our national reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” she said.
EDC Board Chair Carol Steen said East Fork’s commitment to living wages and workforce investment exemplifies the region’s economic development goals. Supporting homegrown companies as they reinvest in our community is at the heart of the EDC’s work, she said.
More information about East Fork and job opportunities is available at eastfork.com.