Governor Doyle Announces Herman Miller Consolidation, Expected to Create 150 Jobs

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2009
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Mark Schurman, Herman Miller, Inc., 616-654-5498

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Herman Miller, Inc. will consolidate the company's Brandrud subsidiary operations in Sheboygan. The company will receive a $500,000 loan and up to $750,000 in economic development tax credits to assist with the project, in addition to further anticipated support from the city and county of Sheboygan.

"Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the Wisconsin economy, and Herman Miller is the kind of innovative company we are proud to have in our state," Governor Doyle said. "I'm pleased that we could work with the company to retain and consolidate its healthcare product operations in Sheboygan."

"Our employees and the Sheboygan community have welcomed the announcement of new production at our Nemschoff operations," said Beth Nickels, President of Herman Miller Healthcare. "We appreciate the assistance offered by Governor Doyle and the State of Wisconsin, as well as Mayor Ryan and the City of Sheboygan, in support of our investment."

Herman Miller, Inc. is a global manufacturer of office, healthcare, educational, and residential furniture. It is credited with the invention of the office cubicle, among other innovations. With the consolidation of much of its healthcare production in Sheboygan, the project will create up to 150 jobs over the next two years, support the retention of 394 jobs, and represent $2.5 million in new investment.

Governor Doyle is providing funding for Herman Miller through a new $94 million consolidated tax credit program. In the budget Governor Doyle signed in June, he consolidated five existing economic development programs into one - streamlining administrative issues and better focusing resources on supporting job creation and retention, worker training and investment in new equipment.

Governor Doyle thanked Representative Terry Van Akkeren for leadership in bringing jobs to Sheboygan and for his support of the consolidated economic development program.

About Herman Miller
Herman Miller works for a better world around you - with inventive designs, technologies and related services that improve the human experience wherever people work, heal, learn, and live. Its curiosity, ingenuity, and design excellence create award-winning products and services, resulting in more than $1.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2009. Innovative business practices and a commitment to social responsibility have also established Herman Miller as a recognized global company. In 2009, Herman Miller was again cited by FORTUNE as both the "Most Admired" in its industry and among the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America, while Fast Company named Herman Miller among the innovative "Companies to Watch." Herman Miller trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.

For more information on Commerce programs and services, contact the Commerce Area development manager at http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-AreaDevManagers.html.

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