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By Brooke Thomson
President and CEO
Reports of the death of manufacturing in Massachusetts are apparently greatly exaggerated.
That was the sentiment Wednesday as more than 150 Massachusetts manufacturers crowded into a hearing room at the Massachusetts State House to meet with the co-chairs of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus. It was all part of AIM’s second annual Manufacturing Day at the Statehouse, which took place on a day when the House of Representatives passed a $425 million economic development bill.
The event featured presentation of the AIM Excellence in Manufacturing award to Plansee USA of Franklin. Plansee was honored for its commitment to operational excellence, innovative production techniques, workforce training, economic opportunity and service to the community.
When people think about manufacturing, they picture factory floors, assembly lines, and machines producing everything from automobiles to medical devices. When they think about public policy, they picture lawmakers, regulations, taxes, and government programs.
At first glance, these may seem like separate worlds. In reality, they are deeply interconnected.
Every major manufacturing decision—where to build a plant, what products to make, how to invest in new technology, and whom to hire—is shaped by public policy.
Manufacturing Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Paul Feeney and Rep. Jeff Roy spoke with AIM members about a range of issues, from expansion of vocational education to housing the high cost of doing business in Massachusetts.
Both lawmakers said that manufacturing is part of the debate on a range of major issues at the state house.
“When we talk about energy in Massachusetts – manufacturing. When we do a workforce bill – manufacturing. We do a climate bill – manufacturing. A housing bill – manufacturing. Education bill-manufacturing. Health care – manufacturing. Every single thing we do from a policy perspective here in the Massachusetts Legislature is tied to what you do as manufacturers,” said Sen. Feeney, who represents parts of Bristol and Norfolk Counties.
He urged manufacturers to share positive narratives about their companies and the “why” that explains the reasons for their success.
“Let’s talk about the (companies) that are staying and what they are doing right,” Sen. Feeney said.
Rep. Roy said the Economic Development bill set to pass the House includes a number or provisions that will benefit manufacturers. The measure would allocate $100 million allocated to defense-sector innovation; $25 million for robotics, applied artificial intelligence and quantum technology; $25 million in capital supports for companies expanding or considering advanced manufacturing; and streamline permitting and zoning to speed the conversation or expansion of commercial properties.
“We are not just a state that thinks we are state that makes,” Rep. Roy told the audience.
He said the 230,000 people in Massachusetts who work in manufacturing “clock in every day to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Both legislators acknowledged the need to address cost issues that have prompted residents and businesses to relocate to less-expensive states. They also underscored the need to expand vocation education to train the next generation of manufacturing workers.
Leslie Greis, an owner of Kinefac Corporation in Worcester and Co-Chair of the AIM Manufacturing Community, outlined several steps the Legislature could take to help manufacturing companies:
AIM is deeply gratified by the support of elected officials for the manufacturing community. We are also gratified at the overwhelming number of manufacturers who showed up at the State House and who support the work of AIM.
