Hickory – The next eight-week Furniture Fundamentals class required to enter the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy will start April 9 and is open for registration.

Taught four days a week Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the class prepares students to pursue the discipline they would like to master for employment in the furniture industry.

A growing need for local skilled furniture workers prompted CVCC to redesign a furniture training academy with support and guidance from area manufacturers. The complete series of disciplines includes Manual Cutting, Automated Cutting, Pattern Making, Sewing, Spring up (8-way hand tie), Inside Upholstery, and Outside Upholstery.

Taught by upholstery artisans and craftsmen employed by industry partners, the Academy operates in a 38,000-square-foot simulated furniture manufacturing environment at 973 Locust Street in Newton.

Founding industry partners are Century Furniture, LEE Industries, Lexington Home Brands, Sherrill Furniture and Vanguard Furniture. Additional supporting partners include American Home Furnishings Alliance, Atlantic Packaging, Autoquip Corporation, Bassett Furniture, CR Laine, Dimension Wood Products, DUO-Fast, Ethan Allen, Fairfield Chair, Fairgrove Furniture, Geiger International, Gerber Technology, Harris Handling , Haworth Health Environments, HBF Textiles, HSM Solutions, Heico Fasteners, Image Industries, Leggett & Platt, NC Works Career Center Catawba, Precedent, Snyder Paper, TB Arhaus, TCS Designs Inc., TD Fibers, United Sewing and Wesley Hall, Inc.

The cost is $245, which includes the textbook.

For more information about enrolling in the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy class beginning April 9, contact Lori Price with CVCC’s Business & Industry Services, 828-327-7000, ext. 4284, [email protected] or Cindy Fulbright, CVFA Project Manager, 828-327-7000, ext. 4778, [email protected].