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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             Contact: Matt Braud
September 26, 2006                                                                                      202-482-3809

 

INDIANA MANUFACTURING ROUNDTABLE FOCUSES ON THE STATE’S
COMPETITIVE FUTURE

Commerce Assistant Secretary Urges Indiana to Keep Focus on Manufacturing

INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time, the federal government has partnered with the state and local governments to create the first Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee, choosing Indiana for the inaugural meeting. The partnership fulfills recommendations made in a comprehensive report by the Commerce Department, Manufacturing in America, which identified challenges facing the manufacturing sector and outlined recommendations that will aid American manufacturing and create jobs.

The Commerce Department’s Office of Manufacturing and Services today hosted the event along with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Manufacturers Association, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services Al Frink said the U.S. Commerce Department selected Indiana because of the significant impact manufacturing has on the state’s economy.

“Indiana was an ideal choice for this partnership because of the support manufacturers receive from their leaders in government, academia and the private sector,” said Frink. “Indiana’s leadership works together to strengthen manufacturing. I think that’s underscored by Indiana having the nations highest manufacturing Gross State Product of 28.3 percent.”

“With the right policies on workforce, innovation and business climate, manufacturing can continue to grow and create new jobs for Hoosiers,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce Michael Maurer said. The Secretary pointed out that Indiana leads much of the nation in manufacturing innovation and related job retention. “Indiana has steadily been increasing its share of critical strategic global markets.”

Moderated by Inside Indiana Business host Gerry Dick, three interactive panels explored how Indiana can strengthen its current competitive position by creating a more robust business environment, elevating workforce strategies, and promoting innovation and real technology transfer.

The Indiana Manufacturing Roundtable also provided take-away information that will continue that process, according to conference organizers. Panels focused on current issues facing Indiana manufacturers as well as how to retain and develop the state’s highly skilled workforce.

This Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee was created as a result of recommendations in the Manufacturing In America report. Visit www.manufacturing.gov to view the complete manufacturing report and the four-page summary.

 

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