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Governors Offer Renewed Focus on Advanced Manufacturing

Monday, January 28, 2013

WASHINGTON-The competitiveness of U.S. businesses and their ability to hold and return manufacturing jobs to the United States will depend in part on success in advanced manufacturing, according to a report released today by the National Governors Association (NGA).

Advanced manufacturing applies to both the production of tailor-made goods aimed at specific individuals and industry users and an array of product and process innovations being adopted by manufactures that include robotics, nanotechnologies and advanced materials.

"Making" Our Future: What States Are Doing to Encourage Growth in Manufacturing through Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Investment (PDF) chronicles the progress of eight states in preparing new strategies intended to build a foundation for success in advanced manufacturing by combining workforce education and support for business innovation, university-industry partnerships and public and private sector entrepreneurship.

"Manufacturing in the U.S. is changing," said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. "It is important that governors continue to learn so they are able to determine the best way forward, ensuring good businesses and jobs for our citizens."

"Making" Our Future (PDF) focuses on the results of an NGA Center for Best Practices Policy Academy where teams from eight states-California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania-participated in an intensive, year-long strategic planning process to support advanced manufacturing. Together, these states represent 30 percent of total manufacturing gross domestic product, one-third of U.S. manufacturing jobs and more than 25 percent of U.S. exports of manufactured goods.

"We are committed to supporting American businesses and workers in advanced manufacturing, which will help create jobs and strengthen our economy while boosting our global competitiveness," said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. "The Commerce Department is proud to have partnered with the National Governors Association to produce a report that will undoubtedly prove valuable in helping our nations governors grow their local economies."

As a result of the NGA Policy Academy, states:

  • Established new programs;
  • Redesigned organizations or created new ones;
  • Passed legislation; and
  • Secured funding allocations for their manufacturing priorities.

This report offers all states a unique look at the policy steps taken by the eight states to encourage growth in manufacturing through innovation, entrepreneurship and investment.

NGA collaborated with and received funding support from the U.S. Department of Commerces National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

To learn more, please visit www.nga.org/cms/center/ehsw.