[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23660]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ART VAN FURNITURE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2009

  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Art Van 
Furniture. Throughout the month of October, Mr. Art Van Elslander and 
Art Van Furniture are celebrating 50 years as a family-owned and 
Michigan-based company.
  In my district, the city of Kalamazoo is home to an Art Van Furniture 
store that has been dedicated to supplying guests with quality 
furniture and superior customer service. They have continued to provide 
jobs and revenue to the local economy during a time when Southwest 
Michigan has needed it most.
  As Michigan's largest furniture retailer with 32 locations, Art Van 
Furniture has brought recognition and notoriety to our State by 
receiving numerous distinguished honors. One recent accolade was the 
2009 Retailer of the Year Award from Furniture Today, a furniture 
industry publication. In acknowledgment of their green efforts, the 
Michigan Retailers Association named Art Van Furniture a 2007 
GreenTailer. This inaugural honor is given to retailers who are 
protecting the environment by adopting energy conservation and Earth-
friendly practices.
  Providing continual and vital economic growth to local communities 
statewide by employing more than 2,500 Michiganders, Art Van Furniture 
has been continually named one of West Michigan's 101 Best and 
Brightest places to work. Furthermore, Art Van Furniture has an 
exceptional record of giving back to area charities and communities 
through a variety of generous financial contributions.
  Again, it is my honor to rise today in honor of Art Van Furniture on 
the monumental occasion of its 50th anniversary. Congratulations and 
best wishes for another five decades.

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