The Tri-County Manufacturing Roundtable will be an opportunity for manufacturing companies to discuss partnering with manufacturing leaders and local schools to ensure that their companies have the right tools and highly trained workforce they need to grow. Manufacturing of today involves employees that are highly trained in technology, programming and innovation.
The discussions will be led by Ira Moskowitz, Director of Advanced Manufacturing Programs at the Innovation Institute at MassTech, which manages the Commonwealth’s investments in the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) program, and John Killam, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP).
M2I2 aims to help Massachusetts manufacturers adopt innovative new technologies and promotes job growth through cross-collaboration among companies, universities, national labs, government, incubators, accelerators and other academic and training institutions. Under Killam’s direction, MassMEP has played a key role in securing training grants for manufacturers, as well as preparing potential employees for careers in the field of manufacturing.
“Manufacturing is vitally important to the Massachusetts economy,” said Representative Roy. “It is the sixth largest employment sector here, and we are constantly looking to innovative solutions that can help our economy grow. We know the area provides competitive salaries for workers and advances the development of revolutionary products. Collaboration between manufacturers, community colleges, technical high schools and regional workforce boards is a way we can continue to develop talent and increase production.”
According to the recently launched Manufacturing in Massachusetts website (http://www.mamanufacturing.com/), 10.1% of the Commonwealth’s total economic output is tied to manufacturing and $26 billion in manufactured goods were exported from the Commonwealth in 2016 alone. Roughly 250,000 employees work in the manufacturing sector in Massachusetts, comprising 7.8% of the total workforce in the state.
Rep. Louis Kafka (D-Sharon), Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham), Sen. Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), Rep. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleborough), and Rep. Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk) are also expected to participate.
These efforts are supported by the Legislature’s bipartisan Manufacturing Caucus which serves as a link for legislators cutting across issues that affect the manufacturing industry. Formed in August 2014, the Caucus includes more than 60 legislators from around the Commonwealth. Lawmakers focus on training for manufacturing employees, encouraging innovation by helping start-ups access resources, and expanding apprenticeship opportunities in key manufacturing sectors. The Caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Roy and Sen. Eric Lesser (D-Springfield).
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| October is MA's Manufacturing Month |
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