Highlights the importance of manufacturing jobs to support economic growth in Washington State
President Barack Obama will address the nation tonight to unveil his proposed jobs plan, which is expected to outline a variety of measures in both the public and private sectors to help stimulate job creation and economic growth. Impact Washington believes that continued support for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a critical component of any jobs plan.
“Impact Washington, the MEP affiliate for the state of Washington, appreciates the strong bipartisan support the MEP program has received thus far from the Administration and Congress,” said John Vicklund, Impact Washington President. “We’re calling on both to continue their support of the public-private partnership between the MEP and America’s small manufacturers, which has been successful despite a weakening economic landscape.”
The results of an independent survey of the MEP program nationwide support this fact. Despite an economy in the throes of a severe recession, the MEP program nationwide helped create 72,075 jobs in 2009 alone. Here in Washington, in the second quarter of this year, manufacturers that worked with Impact Washington reported 115 jobs created, 126 jobs retained, over $21 million in new increased sales, and over $5 million in increased investment.
“The current job scene in America is discouraging, but manufacturing has the potential for significant growtn,” Vicklund commented. “If policymakers continue to tout that small business is the economic cornerstone to U.S. growth, then more should be done to help small manufacturers succeed. Washington manufacturers are leading the recovery by becoming more innovative, investing in new technologies and business practices, and increasing the productivity of their workers.”
