State loses grant to promote furniture industry

by Associated Press

Published: September 23,2011

Tags: furniture, grant, manufacturing, marketing, state budget, state government, tradeshow

TUPELO — Officials say the loss of a $200,000 state grant likely will mean less national attention for Northeast Mississippi’s furniture industry.

V.M. Cleveland, chairman of the Tupelo Furniture Market, tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal the loss means less national marketing of area furniture manufacturers and of the twice-yearly market.

The grant had been awarded the previous three years.

Mississippi Development Authority officials told lawmakers Wednesday that the state has a limited amount of money and could not fund all requests.

Rep. Steve Holland, a Democrat from Plantersville, says he will try to have the grant restored by lawmakers in the 2012 session. He says the money is needed for advertising to lure national retailers to the market to purchase the locally made goods.

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