What kind of manufacturing jobs can’t be exported?  Not the item which is to be manufactured, but more importantly the type of manufacturing which can’t be exported. 

I was listening to NPR recently and they were interviewing the mayor or East Lansing, Michigan.  This mayor was speaking about “Advanced Manufacturing”; one type of manufacturing which cannot be exported.  Advanced manufacturing is more than just someone standing at a machine punching out pieces all day, or an assembly line of people plugging parts into a product as it goes by.  Advanced Manufacturing is about individuals with the talents, training, knowledge, and a passion for the product.  They are constantly improving, updating, and innovating the product and the process. These individuals are daily adding value to their jobs; making them the kind of jobs that cannot be exported!  This is a prime example of what used to be called American Ingenuity.  We’re taking a weakness; fixing it, and turning it into strength.

So, where do we get these jobs?  What is the Process to create manufacturing jobs that can’t be exported?  First of all we need to realize there is more than one right answer to any problem.  Knowing this opens our minds to all possibilities because we’re no longer afraid to make a mistake.  We’re not just thinking outside the box, but also inside the box; everywhere!  And, this means there are already some right ideas out there in the process, which are working and creating jobs.

Example:  Our State Senator, Jimmy Jacumin has authored a bill in our State Legislature; “The Endangered Manufacturing and Jobs Act”.  This common sense approach to job creation doesn’t petition the U.S. Government for money.  It taps into private money; grants and loans available at low rates from industries and individuals interested in re-energizing our manufacturing economy.  Other states are benefiting from our Senator’s work; why aren’t we?

Since 1964 “The Manpower Training Development Act” has been providing federal funds for our community colleges to assist in retraining displaced workers.  This is good.  But it is time the programs in the schools be enhanced to provide those skills necessary to establish manufacturing jobs which cannot be exported.  These programs are developing in many states with their community colleges, and this needs to be done in our 10^th District.  Local business leaders, experienced manufacturers, and LOCAL school administrators should direct this movement.

You’ve heard people say we need to offer more enticements for large corporations to come into our area.  But, this is not a guaranteed solution as has been seen from Winston Salem’s experience with Dell Computer.  Here the community offered huge tax incentives for Dell to come in and build a network of manufacturing which would generate 1,100 new jobs.  What happened?  They built the facilities, created 900 new jobs, and then decided to close after only five years because of economic conditions.  Manufacturing moved to Mexico.

Would this same move have happened if such a company had been started from the ground up, by local founders and completely local employees?  If these jobs had been created on the basis of advanced manufacturing principles, jobs that could not be exported; wouldn’t they still be in Winston Salem?

How can government help?  Community, County, and State Tax incentives are a pittance compared to Federal Taxes.  Remove the burdens of Federal Government.  How?  (Remember, there is always more than one right answer.)

A new company’s most difficult problem is cash flow: having enough cash to pay bills and payroll is its life blood.  Knowing this, the Federal Government can forgo ALL taxes and fees, and relax backbreaking restrictions and regulations on a new business.  This will greatly increase the cash available so a fledgling company can get going, pay its bills, create well paying jobs, and establish its brand.  A new company’s most difficult time is the 3^rd year out, so cut all taxes and fees and modify regulations until the 4^th year.  Knowing they’ll have to deal with the governments the start-up company will be prepared, healthy, and a productive supporter of the community, State and Country. – One right answer.

Jobs: the most important issue in our District.   They are not difficult to create, if you have the right answers.  I’ve offered a few answers as to how it can be done, but more importantly I’ve laid out a process for developing the right answers.  We need to move forward with this process, and rebuild our manufacturing jobs!