On Manufacturing Day, Commerce Secretary to Present Governor’s Proclamation

On Friday, October 3, at 8 a.m. at James B. Hunt Library on the NC State University Centennial Campus, Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker will present a proclamation from Governor Pat McCrory honoring Manufacturing Day in North Carolina. The proclamation is part of Manufacturing Day 2014, an annual national recognition of the industry. NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson will be among the event’s speakers.

The NC State Industrial Extension Service (IES) is promoting numerous activities throughout the state, including Secretary Decker’s appearance at Hunt Library, to raise awareness of the opportunities that advanced manufacturing brings to North Carolina. A flagship event hosted in partnership with GE Aviation will be held at the company’s Engine Facility in Durham beginning at 10 a.m.

More than 50 other manufacturers and organizations will host open houses and virtual events to give the North Carolina public the opportunity to see advanced manufacturing in action. For a list of participating locations, visit http://www.ies.ncsu.edu/mfgday.

According to the NC Chamber of Commerce, manufacturing is the leading contributor to North Carolina’s GDP, and the sector employs almost 11 percent of the state’s total workforce. The average manufacturing salary in NC is $53,337, and the need for highly trained, highly skilled workers continues to grow as advanced technologies become more widely adopted.

MFG Day was started three years ago by a coalition including the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International; the National Association of Manufacturers; the Manufacturing Institute; and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. MFG DAY empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive.

For more information on these MFG Day events, visit http://www.ies.ncsu.edu/mfgday. For additional questions or inquiries, please contact Josh Dasal, IES Communications Manager, at josh_dasal@ncsu.edu or (919) 515-5418.