Mississippi Furniture Association holds golf benefit

Raises nearly $12,000 to support group's programs

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 10, 2009

Participants in the Mississippi Furniture Assn. golf event include Ken Pruett, left, of the MFA; Bill Martin, Franklin Furniture Institute; Janice Coleman, Tupelo Furniture Market; and Ken Ranager, American Furniture.

PONTOTOC, Miss. — Nearly 100 golfers attended an annual benefit tournament here for the Mississippi Furniture Assn., a coalition of manufacturers and others in the industry that is working to keep furniture jobs in the state.

Ken Pruett, president of the MFA, said the event raised nearly $12,000 to support the association's programs, including its work to lobby state leaders for the industry's benefit.

"We just appreciate everyone who came out and supported us," he said.

Pruett said the association is still working to get state incentives, including tax credits, to save furniture manufacturing and related jobs in Mississippi. An incentives bill backed by the MFA was approved by the state legislature this year but was vetoed by Gov. Haley Barbour, who said it would cost too much and that the state's tax credit law was designed to support new, higher-paying jobs.

"We're still fighting for it," said Pruett, who added that industry leaders will meet soon to discuss their next steps.

Crowell Armstrong, left, lobbyist for the Mississippi Furniture Assn.; Mississippi state Rep. Jim Beckitt; Ken Pruett, MFA; and Rusty Berryhill, Kevin Charles Furniture.