In an effort to maintain skilled professionals in the flooring industry, the American Floorcovering Alliance Inc. donated the last of its holdings, $135,000, to Georgia Northwestern Technical College before the advocacy group dissolved.
Following the decision to end the American Floorcovering Alliance due to cutbacks and changes in its trade show known as FloorTek Expo, the group was left with a large cash balance. Stephanie Manis, the former executive director of the American Floorcovering Alliance, said it made the most sense to put it into educational efforts in the industry.
“AFA’s primary function since 1979 was to market the floorcovering industry and provide services to the industry,” Manis stated in a news release. “Upon the dissolution of AFA, we determined that the balance of cash after liquidation would be best used by local colleges to assist in training and recruiting students to help fill the employment gap and provide skilled talent to the industry.”
The AFA is a nonprofit flooring industry advocate that traces its roots to 1979 as the group that organized the first industry trade show (CMMA), held in Dalton. In the 1990s, the emphasis shifted to showcasing floorcovering equipment manufacturers and helping members market their products overseas.
During that time, the organization became a 501(c)(3), and later in 2002, it became the American Floorcovering Alliance. The following year, its trade show for manufacturing was branded FloorTek Expo.