County, Local Manufacturers, Chambers Among

Supporters of Manufacturing Day 2014

Annual nationwide event exposes manufacturing facilities and careers to public

Brevard County, Fla. (September 12, 2014) – Manufacturers from across the country are opening their doors to showcase the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers. Here’s your chance to get involved.

Manufacturing Day in the United States is taking place on Friday, October 3, 2014, a day where manufacturers are encouraged to provide tours of their facilities and help to educate the community about what happens in a modern day manufacturing facility. To date, over 700 manufacturers nationwide are set to participate in this annual event. On the Space Coast, six companies are participating and will help spread the word about careers and advances in manufacturing:

  • Craig Technologies Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Center
  • Embraer Executive Jets
  • Harris Corporation
  • Knight’s Armament
  • Mack Technologies Florida, Inc.
  • Rapid Prototyping Services, LLC

This grassroots program is gaining official support locally. This Tuesday the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners will vote to adopt a resolution proclaiming October 3 Manufacturing Day. The resolution will recognize the Made in Brevard program, an initiative of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC), and its support and encouragement of local manufacturer participation in the national effort.

“With over 500 manufacturers in Brevard County, we appreciate the support of the Commission to recognize this important day within an industry that provides a significant economic impact to our community”, said Mark Mikolajczyk, chair of the EDC and president of Craig Technologies Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Center, a Manufacturing Day participating company. “Manufacturing today is modern, highly technical and nothing like the perceptions that once were reality decades ago. It’s time to show the new side of manufacturing and this event is the ideal catalyst to make that happen.”

In addition to County support, all four local Chambers of Commerce – Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida, The Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce and Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce – are joint partners in Made In Brevard’s effort to expand local manufacturing awareness.

The EDC hosted Industry Council, a group of 20 local manufacturing companies, is also getting behind Manufacturing Day.

“The Industry Council is committed to getting the next generation excited about a career in manufacturing and helping existing manufacturers mitigate the skills gap threatening the industry”, said Bob Coats, of Lockheed Martin and chair of the EDC’s Industry Council. “What better way to show future leaders what life is really like within a next generation manufacturing facility than to actually show them firsthand? What better way for manufacturers to be able to hold a captive audience of the very people who have the potential to close the gap and fill the workforce pipeline? It’s a powerful opportunity for everyone involved.”

How can local manufacturers participate?

HOST AN OPEN HOUSE
As a manufacturer it’s your opportunity to:

  • Tell your company’s story
  • Dispel outdated myths about manufacturing
  • Inspire a new generation of manufacturers
  • Connect with potential customers in your community

Register your event at mfgday.com to increase interest and make your participation count towards the bigger national effort.

How can you get involved?

ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE
If you are employed in a non-manufacturing service industry such as accounting, business and MRO supplies, business services, education, media or if you are a student or a parent, visit manufacturers and learn:

  • What modern manufacturing facilities are really like these days
  • What the companies located in your community make and who they sell to
  • What kinds of jobs are available in manufacturing
  • What skills and education are needed to qualify for today’s manufacturing jobs

Visit www.mfgday.com/events to find local events taking place throughout the county.

An additional opportunity to become better informed and engaged in the local manufacturing industry is through a joint event that will feature simulations, real world business examples, national manufacturing experts and local educational organizations. Manufacturing our Future, being held on Thursday, September 18 on the Cocoa campus of Eastern Florida State College, will include further conversation on Manufacturing Day and the various efforts underway to bolster the local manufacturing community. To learn more visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org/Events.

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About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC)
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high tech companies. The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.

About Manufacturing Day
Manufacturing Day is a joint effort of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute (MI), and the National Standards & Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to draw public attention to the great career opportunities in manufacturing. The event is held annually nationwide on the first Friday in October. The inaugural event was held in 2012. Visit www.mfgday.com.