51�Թ���

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� today traveled to Iowa to highlight the state’s modern manufacturing industry as part of the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. During the visit, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons and Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee met with students, business leaders and local manufacturers to discuss the industry’s optimistic outlook for the future, the high-tech, high-paying opportunities in modern manufacturing and the urgent need to recruit the next generation of manufacturers.

We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that will actually spur job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind, �����������վ������DzԲ�.

We should not fear the future. Powered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturers in American are keeping our promise to invest in our people and our communities. Modern manufacturing is vital to the Iowa economy, and we’re driving innovation in agriculture, bioscience, energy and more. We’re stronger than ever, and that means we need to hire more innovators and creators than ever. With 428,000 jobs open today and 4.6 million to fill over the next decade, manufacturers across America are saying ‘creators wanted.’

Timmons and Lee began the day at Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield, Iowa, for a roundtable discussion about workforce development with former Sukup interns and current employees and executives. Sukup President and CEO Charles Sukup and Vice President and CFO Steve Sukup talked about their robust internship program that trains employees and discussed the positive impact tax reform had on business. In fact, Sukup hired 200 new people last year. Following the discussion, Sukup showcased the company’s innovative Safe T Homes, metal houses used in developing countries that can withstand the effects of natural disasters.

Businesses across the country are experiencing a skills gap, and Sukup is no exception, said Charles Sukup, president and CEO of Sukup. Thanks to economic policies that have given us the tools to invest, we are actively looking to hire for many different roles, from IT developers and mechanics to welders, technicians and more. We need to invest in our future workforce and we need to do it now.

The tour spent the second half of the day in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, focusing on the next generation of skilled manufacturers. Timmons and Lee visited Kirkwood Community College to learn more about their curriculum, observing students working in the Automation and Instrumentation, Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics, Electrical Engineering and Virtual Reality and Welding labs. Timmons and Lee also visited the Johnson County Regional Center at the University of Iowa, where educators showcased the proactive measures Kirkwood and the Johnson County community are taking to attract high school students to the manufacturing industry.

Businesses across Iowa are enthusiastic about the state and national business climate, said Michael Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. We’re seeing job creation, wage growth and business expansion. However, attracting and retaining a skilled workforce continues to be one of the biggest challenges for Iowa’s manufacturing community. We are thrilled to stand alongside the 51�Թ��� today to demonstrate the many ways manufacturers are solving complicated problems.

For the past five years, the annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour has focused the nation’s attention on the industry that is the backbone of the American economy, highlighting the more than 12.8 million men and women who are building our future and solving tomorrow’s challenges today. The tour has traveled the country, bringing policy discussions and conversations about the future of work in the manufacturing industry to shop floors, schools, economic clubs, television studios, the White House and more. This year’s tour will spotlight the industry’s next frontier, while also focusing on manufacturing’s well-paying careers, the industry’s diverse workforce and the policy solutions that are essential for manufacturing’s continued growth.

Members of the media interested in covering the tour should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C.��– 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons will travel to��Minneapolis and Winsted, Minnesota, on Monday, February 25,��during the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. Timmons will be joined by Minnesota manufacturers, students, employees and business and community leaders to discuss the rewarding and diverse opportunities in manufacturing and to underscore the urgent need to inspire more Americans to join the manufacturing workforce. Timmons will also be joined on the tour by Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the 51�Թ���.

Manufacturing has always been the source of America’s strength—and today, we’re building the future. We’re rising to the occasion to solve real-world problems. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that, contrary to the naysayers, will be a net positive for job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind. This tour will show us exactly how that’s happening and share this message with more Americans. We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States, and we should not fear the future, said Timmons.

Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million Americans, including 320,000 Minnesotans.��The��tour��will spotlight the next frontier in modern manufacturing—how cutting-edge technologies and our traditional strong work ethic are helping manufacturers solve tomorrow’s challenges today. In addition, the��tour��will highlight the diverse manufacturing job opportunities and how the industry is working to fill more than 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.

WHAT: �������������������������������������������� 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019��������������������������������

WHEN:�������������������������������������������� Monday, February 25 // Minnesota

10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. CST

Protolabs – Brooklyn Park

8500 Wyoming Ave. North

Minneapolis, MN 55445

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CST

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Manufacturers Coalition

Graco

65 11th Ave. NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CST

Metal Trade Solutions

311 1st St. North

Winsted, MN 55395

Timmons will begin the day at Protolabs, where he will tour the digital manufacturer’s new, 152,000-square-foot Brooklyn Park facility. Following the tour, Timmons will join students from Dunwoody College to discuss workforce opportunities and the next frontier of manufacturing in Minnesota and across the country.

Timmons and Lee will then join prominent manufacturing and business leaders for a roundtable discussion with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Manufacturers Coalition about the state of modern manufacturing in Minnesota and how businesses in the state are partnering with educational institutions to bolster STEM opportunities for the next generation of manufacturers. Lee will also visit Metal Trade Solutions for a tour of its production facility.

The 2019 tour follows the best year in more than two decades for manufacturing job creation. Manufacturers, empowered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, are reporting record levels of optimism, with an average of 92.4 percent having a positive outlook for their company’s future in 2018, according to the latest 51�Թ�����. In addition to Minnesota, the tour will visit Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, California and Arizona.

MEDIA RSVP:��Members of the media interested in covering the tour or attending an event should contact��. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Washington, D.C.��– 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons delivered the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing 2019 Address today at Lone Star College – North Harris in Houston, Texas. Timmons addressed Lone Star students, veterans, business leaders and local manufacturers and highlighted the industry’s optimism for the future, manufacturing’s high-tech, innovative nature and the urgent need to recruit the next generation of manufacturers. He also touched on top policy priorities for manufacturers.

Manufacturing is an engine of job creation. It is the source of America’s strength. And what is the state of modern manufacturing in America? Today, manufacturing in America is on the rise. Tax reform was the rocket fuel it was promised to be, and it’s helping us to climb higher and faster than almost anyone thought possible in this century, said Timmons.

Today, people in manufacturing are using technologies that most Americans couldn’t have imagined a few years ago—artificial intelligence, augmented reality. We don’t just have robots; we have ‘co-bots,’ machines that work in tandem with you. And you have manufacturers trying to figure out how quantum computing could revolutionize logistics.

Timmons highlighted the strength of manufacturing in Texas and the job opportunities available to students. He also emphasized the policy solutions that manufacturers want to see from lawmakers—with a focus on a U.S.–China trade deal, approval of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, infrastructure investment and meaningful immigration reform. Timmons touted “��the 51�Թ���’s recently released plan for a comprehensive, legislative immigration solution.

To read the full the address, click��.

Technology has transformed our industry. It’s created incredible opportunities. And as we journey further into this new frontier, we want you to be a part of it, Timmons concluded.

Following the address, Timmons toured Lone Star College’s energy, manufacturing and construction workforce program labs, where he met students and talked with them about their trade skill education.

Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute, the 51�Թ���’s education and workforce partner, continued the tour in Houston at the Microsoft Technology Center with a Heroes MAKE America class from Fort Hood. Heroes MAKE America is The Manufacturing Institute’s career skills program that aims to support transitioning service members with in-demand qualifications and industry-specific certifications needed for today’s manufacturing workforce.

One of our missions here at Lone Star College-North Harris to ensure our students are prepared for the workforce and the promising opportunities in the manufacturing sector, said Dr. Gerald Fernandez Napoles, president of Lone Star College – North Harris. We’re proud to welcome the 51�Թ��� and to help tell the story of the rewarding opportunities in manufacturing. Our energy, manufacturing and construction workforce programs are empowering Texans every day to build meaningful careers.

Lee and the Heroes class also toured BP’s Upstream Learning Center with American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers, where they spoke to BP employees about the 51�Թ���’s Heroes MAKE America program. Lee ended the day at Bimbo Bakeries for a facility tour.

Manufacturing is vital to the strong Texas economy, said��Jeff Moseley, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. Today’s event captured the diversity of Texas manufacturers and the ways our technology is transforming the industry and the industry is transforming lives for the better. Modern manufacturing creates good jobs, drives investment and exports and contributes enormously to our local economies. In fact, the Texas manufacturing industry employs around 896,000 Texans and contributes about $226 billion to our state economy. We need to ensure this industry has the tools, and workforce, to continue leading Texas forward.

For the past five years, the annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour has focused the nation’s attention on the industry that is the backbone of the American economy, highlighting the more than 12.8 million men and women who are building our future and solving tomorrow’s challenges today. The tour has traveled the country, bringing policy discussions and conversations about the future of work in the manufacturing industry to shop floors, schools, economic clubs, television studios, the White House and more.

This year’s tour will spotlight the industry’s next frontier, while also focusing on manufacturing’s well-paying careers, the industry’s diverse workforce and the policy solutions that are essential for manufacturing’s continued growth.

Members of the media interested in covering the tour should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-��

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Washington, D.C.��– 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons will travel to��Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, February 22,��during the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. Timmons will be joined by North Carolina manufacturers, students, employees and business and community leaders to discuss the rewarding and diverse opportunities in manufacturing and to underscore the urgent need to inspire more Americans to join the manufacturing workforce. Timmons will also be joined on the tour by Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the 51�Թ���.

Manufacturing has always been the source of America’s strength—and today, we’re building the future. We’re rising to the occasion to solve real-world problems. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that, contrary to the naysayers, will be a net positive for job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind. This tour will show us exactly how that’s happening and share this message with more Americans. We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States, and we should not fear the future, said Timmons.

Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million Americans, including 464,200 North Carolinians.��The��tour��will spotlight the next frontier in modern manufacturing—how cutting-edge technologies and our traditional strong work ethic are helping manufacturers solve tomorrow’s challenges today. In addition, the��tour��will highlight the diverse manufacturing job opportunities and how the industry is working to fill more than 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.

WHAT: �������������������������������������������� 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019��������������������������������

WHEN:�������������������������������������������� Friday, February 22 // North Carolina��

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST

Johnston Community College – Workforce Development Center

135 Best Wood Drive

Clayton, NC 27520

2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST

NC Chamber of Commerce – Roundtable with Area Business Leaders

701 Corporate Center Drive

Raleigh, NC 27607

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST

Protolabs

3700 Pleasant Grove Church Road

Morrisville, NC 27560��

To end the first week of the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour, Timmons will visit the Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center to tour the facility and to learn more about how the college is working��to meet the growing need for more talent in the region, especially in the biopharmaceutical industry. Timmons will then gather with North Carolina business leaders for a roundtable discussion. The group will discuss modern manufacturing and its role in the 21st century. Timmons will finish the day participating in a discussion about workforce diversification with several Protolabs employees.

The 2019 tour follows the best year in more than two decades for manufacturing job creation. Manufacturers, empowered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, are reporting record levels of optimism, with an average of 92.4 percent having a positive outlook for their company’s future in 2018, according to the latest 51�Թ�����. In addition to North Carolina, the tour will visit Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, California and Arizona.

MEDIA RSVP:��Members of the media interested in covering the tour or attending an event should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� today kicked off the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour in Colorado—a state that is home to an array of modern manufacturers. Today’s events in Colorado were the first in the two-week, eight-state tour during which the 51�Թ��� will highlight the opportunities available in modern manufacturing, the urgent need to fill high-tech, high-paying jobs in the industry and the many ways manufacturers are harnessing new technology to improve lives.

We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that will actually spur job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind, said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons.

We should not fear the future. Powered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturing in America is rising higher. Modern manufacturing is vital to the Colorado economy, and we’re driving innovation in agriculture, aerospace, bioscience, beermaking and so much more. We’re stronger than ever, and that means we need to hire more innovators and creators than ever. With 428,000 jobs open today and 4.6 million to fill over the next decade, manufacturers across America are saying: ‘creators wanted.’

Timmons began the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019 at Ball Aerospace in Westminster, where he visited the company’s Aerospace Manufacturing Complex and engaged in a townhall discussion with more than 100 Ball Aerospace employees, scholars and students. During the townhall, Timmons, Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee and Ball Aerospace executives discussed ways to inspire more students to pursue careers in modern manufacturing.

Manufacturing is one of the most diverse, productive industries in Colorado, said��Scott Morrison, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Ball Corporation. Using AI, new technologies and robotics, the industry is becoming even more exciting for young innovators. As an industry, we need to make sure people are aware of the direction manufacturing is heading—toward high-tech, skills-oriented jobs—and encourage them to pursue the rewarding jobs that we offer.

Following Ball Aerospace, Timmons traveled to Fort Collins to continue the tour at Anheuser-Busch for a visit to the brewery and an inside look at their canned water program, which provides U.S. communities affected by natural disasters with safe drinking water. Timmons also moderated a panel discussion with Colorado business leaders who highlighted the many ways manufacturers consistently rise to the occasion to meet the challenges facing their communities and their country.

Lee also visited students and administrators from the Innovation Center at St. Vrain��Valley Schools in��Longmont. John Steckel, director of��the��Innovation Center, led Lee on a tour where she visited students in aeronautics, robotics, computer science, technology and STEM classes.

We’ve called Fort Collins home for more than 30 years, and we are honored to be able to give back to the communities where we live and work, said Gene Bocis, General Manager of the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins brewery. “As a leading American manufacturer and brewer, our emergency drinking water program is one way in which we can do our part to help those in times of need.

For the past five years, the annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour has focused the nation’s attention on the industry that is the backbone of the American economy, highlighting the more than 12.8 million men and women who are building our future and solving tomorrow’s challenges today. The tour has traveled the country, bringing policy discussions and conversations about the future of work in the manufacturing industry to shop floors, schools, economic clubs, television studios, the White House and more. This year’s tour will spotlight the industry’s next frontier, while also focusing on manufacturing’s well-paying careers, the industry’s diverse workforce and the policy solutions that are essential for manufacturing’s continued growth.

Members of the media interested in covering the tour should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

Washington, D.C.��– 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons will travel to��Sheffield and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on��Thursday, February 21��during the fifth annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. Timmons will be joined by Iowa manufacturers, students, employees and business and community leaders to discuss the rewarding and diverse opportunities in manufacturing and to underscore the urgent need to inspire more Americans to join the manufacturing workforce. Timmons will be joined on the tour by Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the 51�Թ���.

Manufacturing has always been the source of America’s strength—and today, we’re building the future. We’re rising to the occasion to solve real-world problems. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that, contrary to the naysayers, will be a net positive for job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind. This tour will show us exactly how that’s happening and share this message with more Americans. We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States, and we should not fear the future, said Timmons.

Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million Americans, including 214,500 Iowans.��The��tour��will spotlight the next frontier in modern manufacturing—how cutting-edge technologies and our traditional strong work ethic are helping manufacturers solve tomorrow’s challenges today. In addition, the��tour��will highlight the diverse manufacturing job opportunities and how the industry is working to fill more than 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.

WHAT: �������������������������������������������� 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour
WHEN:�������������������������������������������� Thursday, February 21 // Iowa

9:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. CST
Sukup Manufacturing Co.

1555 255th Street

Sheffield, IA 50475

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. CST

Kirkwood Community College

Jones Hall

6301 Kirkwood Boulevard SW

Cedar Rapids, IA��52404

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CST

SwineTech, Inc.

230 2nd Street SE, Suite 302
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST

The Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa

2301 Oakdale Boulevard

Coralville, IA 52241

Timmons will begin the day at Sukup Manufacturing Co. where he will sit down with former Sukup interns, current employees and executives to discuss workforce opportunities and the company’s significant investment in workforce development. Following the conversation, Timmons will join the staff on the plant floor for a tour of Sukup’s Safe T Homes.

Timmons will then travel to Cedar Rapids where Kirkwood Community College will host the 51�Թ��� for a series of events with college and high school students and administrators to discuss the importance of trade skill programs and the career opportunities manufacturing has to offer. Additionally, Timmons will visit SwineTech to highlight innovative manufacturing.

The 2019 tour follows the best year in more than two decades for manufacturing job creation. Manufacturers, empowered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, are reporting record levels of optimism, with an average of 92.4 percent having a positive outlook for their company’s future in 2018, according to the latest 51�Թ�����. In addition to Iowa, the tour will visit Colorado, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, California and Arizona.

MEDIA RSVP:��Members of the media interested in covering the tour or attending an event should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –��51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons will travel to��Houston, Texas,��to deliver the annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Address at Lone Star College on��Wednesday, February 20.��Timmons will be joined by Lone Star students, veterans, Texas business leaders and local manufacturers as he discusses the rewarding and diverse opportunities in manufacturing and underscores the urgent need to inspire more Americans to join the manufacturing workforce.

Manufacturing has always been the source of America’s strength—and today, we’re building the future. We’re rising to the occasion to solve real-world problems. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that, contrary to the naysayers, will be a net positive for job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind. This tour will show us exactly how that’s happening and share this message with more Americans. We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States, and we should not fear the future, said Timmons.

Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million Americans, including 869,600 Texans.��The��tour��will spotlight the next frontier in modern manufacturing—how cutting-edge technologies and our traditional strong work ethic are helping manufacturers solve tomorrow’s challenges today. In addition, the��tour��will highlight the diverse manufacturing job opportunities and how the industry is working to fill more than 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.

WHAT: �������������������������������������������� 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Address������������������������������������

WHEN:�������������������������������������������� Wednesday, February 20 // Texas

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST

Lone Star College – North Harris Campus

Student Services Building, Conference Center

2700 W.W. Thorne Drive

Houston, TX 77073

Use Parking Lot K

Immediately after the address, Timmons will join Lone Star College students and faculty for a tour of manufacturing labs and a reception.

The 2019 tour follows the best year in more than two decades for manufacturing job creation. Manufacturers, empowered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, are reporting record levels of optimism, with an average of 92.4 percent having a positive outlook for their company’s future in 2018, according to the latest 51�Թ�����.��In addition to Texas, the tour will visit Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, California and Arizona.

MEDIA RSVP:��Members of the media interested in covering the tour or attending an event should contact��. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

��

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –��The 51�Թ��� will launch the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour on��Tuesday, February 19, in Fort Collins, Colorado.��51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons will be joined by Colorado manufacturers, students, employees and business and community leaders to discuss the rewarding and diverse opportunities in manufacturing and to underscore the urgent need to inspire more Americans to join the manufacturing workforce. Timmons will be joined on the tour by Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the 51�Թ���.

Manufacturing has always been the source of America’s strength—and today, we’re building the future. We’re rising to the occasion to solve real-world problems. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that, contrary to the naysayers, will be a net positive for job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind. This tour will show us exactly how that’s happening and share this message with more Americans. We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States, and we should not fear the future, said Timmons.

Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million Americans, including 142,100 Coloradans.��This year’s��tour��will spotlight the next frontier in modern manufacturing—how cutting-edge technologies and our traditional strong work ethic are helping manufacturers solve tomorrow’s challenges today. In addition, the��tour��will highlight the diverse manufacturing job opportunities and how the industry is working to fill more than 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.

WHAT: �������������������������������������������� 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019��������������������������������

WHEN:�������������������������������������������� Tuesday, February 19 // Colorado

��

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. MST

Anheuser-Busch

3823 Mountain Vista Drive

Fort Collins, CO 80524

Timmons will travel to Anheuser-Busch in Fort Collins, Colorado, to tour Anheuser-Busch’s emergency canned water operation, the brewer’s initiative to help provide clean drinking water for disaster relief areas. Timmons will also join a panel discussion with Gene Bocis, general manager of Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins, and other business and community leaders.

The 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019 follows the best year in more than two decades for manufacturing job creation. Manufacturers, empowered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, are reporting record levels of optimism, with an average of 92.4 percent having a positive outlook for their company’s future in 2018, according to the latest 51�Թ�����. In addition to Colorado, the tour will visit Texas, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, California and Arizona.

MEDIA RSVP:��Members of the media interested in covering the tour or attending an event should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – Following his appointment by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) President and CEO Jay Timmons said:

Across America, manufacturers are in urgent need of more workers. Today, we have nearly half a million job openings. By 2028, we will need to fill 4.6 million jobs. Manufacturers strongly support the administration’s efforts to address the workforce crisis, and I’m proud to represent our industry on the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, said Timmons, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the 51�Թ���. These efforts are a perfect complement to the work already underway at The Manufacturing Institute to inspire and train a new generation of manufacturing workers.

Last year was the best year for manufacturing job creation in more than two decades. With the combined efforts of manufacturers, educators, local officials and the Trump administration, we can build on that growth, and I am confident we can equip more Americans with the skills needed to secure meaningful, high-paying modern manufacturing jobs.

Background

The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board was established by the Department of Commerce pursuant to Executive Order 13845, Establishing the President’s National Council for the American Worker. The Board will provide advice and recommendations on ways to encourage the private sector and educational institutions to combat the skills crisis by investing in and increasing demand-driven education, training and re-training, including training through apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities.

Timmons was nominated to serve on the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board in September by Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. According to a����conducted by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, 2.4 million manufacturing jobs are expected to go unfilled over the next decade.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. –��To bridge the divide on immigration policy, the 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) released a 16-page immigration and border security proposal to fix our broken system once and for all. The detailed plan, titled “A Way Forward,” can be viewed at��.

America has now endured two government shutdowns brought on by different disagreements over immigration, illustrating how divisive this debate has become. It has left manufacturers—and the country as a whole—both rightly frustrated and more eager to achieve a real immigration solution, said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. Manufacturers are in the business of building bridges and creating solutions, so with our leaders in desperate need of a way forward on essential immigration and border security reforms, we are releasing a detailed, pragmatic approach that will make America safer and our economy stronger and smarter for decades to come.

We know that certain components will not sit well with some groups. That is the nature of compromise. Our current situation demands a pragmatic, common-sense and comprehensive approach, and that can only be reached if everyone is willing to listen to all sides and understand that giving ground on some issues can enable them to accomplish their own top priorities.

The 51�Թ���’s “A Way Forward” proposal identifies seven core areas of action for Congress and the administration to take:

• Build walls, fences and barriers and employ other measures to strengthen border security.
• Prioritize America’s workforce needs through reforms to the legal immigration system.
• Reform nonimmigrant visas and temporary worker programs to reflect employer needs, including a fund to support STEM programs so that we can reduce the need for these types of visas in the future.
• Provide a permanent and compassionate solution for populations facing uncertainty, including the Dreamers, who were brought here as children and know no other home.
• Reform asylum and refugee programs for a more orderly and humane system, including asylum standards consistent with our values.
• Fix the problem of the unauthorized population with a firm reset, requiring an orderly process of review, including financial penalties for those who seek to become legal and deportation for those who choose to stay in the shadows.
• Strengthen the rule of law so that it is respected and followed by all, with a focus on gang violence and��also on requiring localities to cooperate to advance the enforcement of immigration priorities.

View the proposal in full��. Read Timmons’ op-ed on��FoxBusiness.com��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.