Mississippi Legislature Approves $250,000 in Funding to Tupelo Furniture Market

TUPELO, Miss., June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- During its last session, the Mississippi Legislature approved $250,000 in funding to the Tupelo Furniture Market.  The funds are to be used for promotion of the bi-annual trade event which brings more than 20,000 buyers and sellers of furniture and furniture accessories to Mississippi each year.

"Furniture manufacturers are a valuable part of Mississippi's economic engine, and the Tupelo Furniture Market is a great place to showcase those products," said Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves. "Sen. Nancy Collins and Sen. J.P. Wilemon shared with senators the important role the Market plays in the state's furniture industry and how these funds would help the Market grow."

"Mississippi is the leading producer of upholstered furniture in the United States," said Jerry Turner, House representative district 18.  "For more than a quarter of a century this furniture market has provided a national audience of buyers for furniture producers operating in Mississippi, making furniture manufacturing the leading industry in the state."

Turner, who was instrumental in securing the funding for the market, went on to explain that companies throughout the United States come to Mississippi to sell their products, and that retailers from every U.S. state and many other countries also attend the event that is always held in Tupelo.  He also indicated that other states with major furniture markets receive similar financial support and it is imperative that Mississippi do the same.  By doing so, Mississippi's leading manufacturing industry will continue to be a leading producer of furniture in the nation.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of Representative Turner," said Kevin J. Seddon, president of the Tupelo Furniture Market.  "He, as well as many others in the state legislature, identified a need to support the market and one of our state's leading industries and took the initiative."

According to Seddon, House Appropriations Chairman Herb Frierson and Senate Appropriations Chairman Buck Clarke, as well as Senators Nancy Collins and J.P. Wilemon were also instrumental in securing the funds for the market.  Other state legislators that played significant roles included Representatives Russell Jolly, Donnie Bell, Bryan Aldridge, Tracy Arnold, Preston Sullivan, Randy Boyd, Mack Huddleston, Margaret Rogers and Steve Holland.

The funding allocated will be provided through the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at the Institutions of Higher Learning.  For more information about the Tupelo Furniture Market, please visit www.tupelofurnituremarket.com.

Contact:
Kevin J. Seddon
Tel. 662.842.4442
E-mail. [email protected]

SOURCE Tupelo Furniture Market