HONOLULU (October 6, 2017) – The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and INNOVATE Hawaii are hosting public tours of local manufacturing facilities in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day, October 6. Manufacturing Day was established to give the public a chance to experience modern manufacturing—in action! The initiative is meant to inspire the next generation of skilled workers and is a growing grassroots movement of manufacturers dedicated to overcoming their collective challenges in order to help their community thrive.
Manufacturing Day in Hawaii will feature a bus tour on Oahu. National Manufacturing Day in Hawaii is supported by INNOVATE Hawaii, the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, nationally, the average tenure of workers in the manufacturing industry is the highest of all private sector industries – averaging over 9 years; the number of job openings for high-skilled and leadership positions will continue to increase as Baby Boomers retire; and the average individual in a manufacturing job in the U.S. earns nearly $20,000 above the average employee in other industries.
“One of the Chamber’s foremost goals is to support and facilitate the continued development of the manufacturing industry in Hawaii,” said Chamber President & CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara. “As the exclusive affiliate in Hawaii for the National Association of Manufacturers, these tours are part of the Chamber’s Manufacturing in Hawaii initiative, a program developed to enhance the opportunities and competitiveness of doing business in Hawaii and also provide necessary resources, network and tools to the manufacturing industry.”
The manufacturing industry is a vital component of Hawaii’s economy and continues to flourish, supporting over 14,000 jobs in Hawaii, with small businesses representing approximately 85.50 percent of all exporters in Hawaii.
National Manufacturing Day in Hawaii will feature public tours of manufacturing facilities on Oahu between 9:00 am and 1:30 pm on October 6. Participating local manufacturers include Art Source, TruTag Technologies and AirGas.
“We’re pleased to offer these tours to offer the public an insider’s look at how Hawaii manufacturers operate and highlight the impact and importance of manufacturing to our community and local economy,” said INNOVATE Hawaii Director Wayne Inouye. “Manufacturing in Hawaii continues to grow and now includes a varied group ranging from food and beverage producers and packaging companies to fashion designers. We are excited to see the expanding growth of manufactured goods from Hawaii and look forward to continuing to support their success.”
Last year, through the support of the Legislature and Governor Ige, the Chamber successfully advocated for a $1 million Manufacturing Grant to fund manufacturers and $2 million in 2015, which can be used for equipment, training, energy efficiency and the planning of a new facility. The Manufacturing Assistance Program is administered by the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.
There are over 1,000 manufacturers in Hawaii with 71 percent of the state’s export share, providing over 14,000 jobs.
For more information on National Manufacturing Day 2017 tours, visit the manufacturing portal on the Chamber’s website at cochawaii.org/mfg. Space is limited. To join these tours, email Jenny Lee at jlee@cochawaii.org.
ABOUT Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
As the “Voice of Business” in Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is the state’s leading advocacy organization. Established in 1850, the Chamber works on behalf of its more than 2,000 member companies and the business community, as a whole, to advance the state’s economic climate and help businesses succeed. The Chamber supports its members with training, business building and networking opportunities; coordinates advocacy activities for members’ involvement; and serves as a liaison between civilian and military communities in Hawaii. Visit cochawaii.org.
About HTDC (Hawaii Technology Development Corporation)
The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) provides programs and services to foster innovation and diversify Hawaii’s economy. Through its incubation programs, grants, seminars, and mentorship opportunities, HTDC is investing the capital, building the infrastructure and developing the talent needed to support the state’s technology ecosystem.
HTDC’s Innovate Hawaii is a federal program of the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP). The program aids U.S. manufacturers to becoming more competitive in the global market through business assistance, grant matching programs, and expert consulting services.www.htdc.org.
# # #