![Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum (standing) discusses the university's role in the Furniture Academy during a press conference in Tupelo Thursday morning [Jan. 12].](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/IMG_0288b.jpg "MSU President Mark Keenum stands at a podium wearing a suit with a maroon tie. He is discussing the new Furniture Academy. Other state and local leaders, also in suits, are seated behind him on the dias. Behind them on the wall is a banner with the logo for the Furniture Academy on it.")
Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum (standing) discusses the university's role in the Furniture Academy during a press conference in Tupelo Thursday morning [Jan. 12].
The new manufacturing skills certification program is a partnership between MSU's Franklin Furniture Institute, Itawamba Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College, the Community Development Foundation, Three Rivers Planning and Development District and several industry partners.
The Furniture Academy is designed to help further develop and enhance a talented workforce to sustain quality production for the region's furniture manufacturers. Local and state officials also participated in the announcement, including District 6 Sen. Chad McMahan (l-r), Gov. Phil Bryant and Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr.
The Furniture Academy’s $250 tuition fee will be waived for the first 300 individuals who enroll thanks to a grant from MDA. Learn more at http://trpdd.com/workforce/academy.