Thomas Russell — Furniture Today,
Aimed at helping manufacturers compete

RALEIGH, N.C. — A bill aimed at helping North Carolina furniture makers become more competitive against foreign manufacturers has stalled in the state House and won’t be reconsidered until next May.

Republican Sen. Jim Jacumin introduced the Endangered Manufacturing and Jobs Act in the North Carolina General Assembly in February.

The bill would provide tax incentives and property tax exemptions to North Carolina furniture manufacturers looking to expand, and would allow foundations to provide low interest loans or grants to manufacturers considering expansion.

It also would create a North Carolina Furniture Council to help identify and implement ways to improve the state’s furniture industry.

The council would administer the proposed North Carolina Furniture Fund, which would collect state and federal monies to help support and develop the state’s furniture industry. The bill suggested the state contribute an initial $5 million to the fund from its 2014-2016 budget.

The bill also suggested the state contribute $2 million between 2014 and 2016 to create a Furniture Technology Center at Catawba Valley Community College. It would be merged with the Hosiery Technology Center at the same college.

On July 31, the bill passed the Senate with a vote of 46-1. By Aug. 1, it got stalled in a House finance committee, where it remained when the General Assembly adjourned in August.

The earliest the bill can be reintroduced is next May, when lawmakers reconvene. It won’t have to come up for another vote in the Senate, but would have to be reintroduced in the House.

Jacumin said he was pleased at the level of interest and support for the bill. He said he will work to gain its passage next year.

“Both parties were supportive of it,” he said. “It affects all of us.”