On June 16, 2004, the New Jersey
Business & Industry Association kicked off its Campaign for
Manufacturing Renewal at a Summit
in Newark attended by 200 New Jersey manufacturers. NJBIA has since
formed a Manufacturing
Council, which serves as a private-sector manufacturing advocate
and is working to advance NJBIA's Agenda
for Manufacturing Renewal. The Chairman of the new Council is
Clifford
Lindholm III, president of the Falstrom Company in Passaic.
The Council's staff director is NJBIA Senior Vice President Melanie
Willoughby. The Assitant Director is NJBIA Vice President John Rogers.
Since December 2000, more than 94,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared
in New Jersey, 22 percent of the pre-recession total. This decline
accelerated a longer-term trend of manufacturing employment losses
in this State. Today, New Jersey is at risk of losing one of its
most valuable economic assets: a healthy and vibrant manufacturing
sector.
As detailed in the New Jersey Policy Research Organization report,
Why
Manufacturing Counts, manufacturers still directly employ more
than 321,000 production workers in New Jersey. These companies pay
above-average wages and benefits, support many jobs in other industries,
maintain safe workplaces, are responsible for $15 billion a year
in exports, and are highly productive and innovative. But the State's
remaining manufacturing jobs are threatened, not only by global
competition, but also by the high and rising cost of doing business
in New Jersey.
The mission of the Campaign for Manufacturing Renewal is to:
• raise awareness among State policymakers, the media and
the public about why a strong manufacturing sector is important
to New Jersey,
• call attention to the challenges faced by New Jersey's
manufacturers to stay competitive in New Jersey, and
• identify and advocate changes in State policy that will
support and strengthen this vital sector of the State economy.
To become a member of the Manufacturing Council or to become involved
in the Campaign, please contact Melanie
Willoughby, 609-393-7707, ext. 205.
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