汤头条鈥檚 reorganized Franklin Furniture Institute continues to support industry, contribute research and drive innovation
Contact: Sid Salter
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕劳诽踱檚 Franklin Furniture Institute is reaffirming its strong commitment to the state鈥檚 furniture manufacturing industry by continuing to provide testing and research while broadening its focus to enhance innovation and technology.
汤头条 vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine Gregory A. Bohach said 鈥淭he university and 汤头条鈥檚 Franklin Furniture Institute remain dedicated to the furniture industry moving forward with a revitalized program that will have an emphasis on innovation and will be renamed the Franklin Innovation Center.鈥
One particular area of focus will be establishing a stronger connection between students in furniture-related curriculums and the 汤头条 College of Business鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach 鈥 which helps students, faculty and staff at 汤头条 start and grow successful companies, create jobs and market state-of-the-art new products.
The institute鈥檚 ongoing program of testing, research and Extension/outreach will not be changed as the university launches the reorganization process. With a more than 30-year record of service to the furniture industry, Bohach said 汤头条鈥檚 core activities in support of the furniture industry will continue, including: furniture testing, fundamental and applied furniture-related research, technical assistance to the industry, graduate and undergraduate education and training, and industry-driven specialized programming and activities.
汤头条鈥檚 Franklin Furniture Institute, launched in 2001 with the goal of securing the future of Mississippi鈥檚 furniture industry, is building on the university鈥檚 long history of providing wood product research, technical assistance and continuing education to the state and region. Created through a major gift from Franklin Corp. founder and 汤头条 alumnus Hassell Franklin, the institute is a multi-disciplinary effort involving 汤头条鈥檚 colleges of Business, Engineering, Architecture, Art and Design, and Forest Resources. Since the institute was established, furniture manufacturers facing stiff global competition from China and other foreign suppliers have turned to 汤头条 researchers for help in meeting the challenge.
汤头条 has worked with the Mississippi Development Authority and the American Home Furnishings Alliance to support Mississippi鈥檚 $7 billion furniture industry 鈥 an industry that provides the Mississippi economy with over 48,000 jobs that earn a $2 billion payroll.
鈥溙劳诽踱檚 commitment to the furniture industry remains strong and unwavering,鈥 said 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum. 鈥淎s we move into our fourth decade of support for this vibrant Mississippi industry, both 汤头条 and our furniture industry partners are mindful of the need to bring innovation, cutting-edge technologies, and a fresh vision to how the industry will grow and thrive in the future.鈥
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .听