Dr. Ronald C. Williams, director of the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship at Coppin State University, knows firsthand the challenges that leaders of color face when collaborating on major federal grants targeted at the manufacturing sector. In a recent proposal design process, despite the fact that many grant opportunities require the participation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Coppin State, Dr. Williams felt unacknowledged and undervalued. “I’m a child of the civil rights era, so I was emotionally traumatized by racism at a very early age. A lifetime of experiences has made me very aware of marginalization. It took me right back to that,” he recounts. In response, Dr. Williams took a stand. “I left the project. I informed the leadership of the project and my institution of my decision. Only after a visit from members and a very candid conversation did I decide to return.”
Dr. Williams’s experience underscores the urgent need to build a more inclusive and equitable manufacturing sector—a mission that lies at the heart of Manufacturing Month. Since its inception in 2012, Manufacturing Month has aimed to inspire the next generation of manufacturing talent by opening doors, igniting passions, and showcasing opportunities in an industry that provides the backbone of our economy. HBCUs like Coppin State University, and other similar organizations, play a critical role in this effort. As Dr. Williams notes, “We have demonstrated 125 years of being able to take students from wherever they are, whatever they bring to the table, and bring them to a place where they can be competitive in the marketplace.”
However, an equally long pattern of underinvestment continues to take its toll. In spite of increased attention and resources from initiatives like the Biden–Harris administration’s Build Back Better plan, many minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations still lack the infrastructure and capacity to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the manufacturing sector’s resurgence. “It doesn’t do you any good to have $20 million for a program, but you don’t have the back office to manage the grant, so you end up drowning under the weight of your success,” Dr. Williams explains. This is where the importance of Manufacturing Month comes in: it provides an opportunity to not only celebrate the industry, but also to address these critical issues and advocate for sustained support for institutions and communities that have historically been underserved. Manufacturing Month should be more than just a day or a month-long celebration: it should be a catalyst for year-round efforts to build capacity and create opportunities in communities that have been left behind.
This is where the importance of Manufacturing Month comes in: it provides an opportunity to not only celebrate the industry, but also to address these critical issues and advocate for sustained support for institutions and communities that have historically been underserved.
Moreover, the challenges faced by HBCUs are just one example of a broader issue affecting many communities of color and underrepresented groups across the country. There is a widespread lack of education about modern manufacturing careers, particularly among younger generations. As Dr. Williams points out, “Now you have a couple of generations with no idea what manufacturing is because of offshoring and automation that accelerated in the ‘80s.”
Manufacturing Month 2024 presents an opportunity to change these dynamics. By showcasing the vital role of educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and community partners in cultivating a diverse manufacturing talent pipeline, advocating for sustained, year-round investment in these critical assets, and educating communities about the exciting opportunities in modern manufacturing, we can build a more inclusive and thriving manufacturing sector.
This is particularly important as new federal funding streams have been announced, such as the Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant and the Department of Commerce’s Good Jobs Challenge. Ensuring that historically underserved institutions and communities are aware of these opportunities and have the capacity to apply for and manage these funds will be critical to creating a more diverse and equitable manufacturing workforce.
Furthermore, as Dr. Williams’ experiences show, revitalizing manufacturing requires a focus on investing in community relationships and local production. He cites the example of a Baltimore makerspace that produced 28,000 face shields in fifty-six days during the pandemic, demonstrating the power of community-level relationships and the ability to respond quickly to local needs. Positively, we have seen the beginning of, and elevation of, intentional efforts at the federal level.
On the first night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), President Biden asserted that his administration is “giving America an infrastructure decade, not week.” He went on to tout the rebirth of American manufacturing and leveraging domestic talent—similarly implying the years, not a week, of job creation his administration’s industrial policies will implement. While these federal investments in manufacturing are described as once-in-a-generation, the permanency of manufacturing jobs, particularly in local communities that never had this type of funding, warrants attention throughout this year, something that has not occurred previously. Merely hosting a series of events in historically underserved communities for one month, without preparing the local leaders in these communities for how to apply and manage related federal investments, does these communities a disservice, and risks being more performative than supportive of systemic change.
What are the Federal Opportunities?
In the last four months of the Biden–Harris administration, there has continued to be a rollout of manufacturing federal investments, and states or educational institutions with sizable communities of color are eligible entities to submit applications. Here’s a breakdown of those opportunities.
1. The Department of Energy’s $50 Million to Strengthen America’s Auto Communities and Bolster Domestic Electric Vehicle Manufacturing is due on October 15, 2024. The grant will help small- and medium-size manufacturers adapt to the electric vehicle supply chain, while helping to maintain union and good-paying jobs. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee are eligible for this funding.
2. The National Science Foundation is accepting applications through December 6 for Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST Centers), with minority-serving institutions (MSIs) as the primary applicants. CREST Centers work to promote research and broaden participation in STEM, through supporting the scholarship of faculty at MSIs and the career pathways of historically excluded students.
3. The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration also posted a notice of funding through the Good Jobs Challenge, closing on September 27, 2024. Nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal governments are eligible consortium members to participate in sectoral partnerships that place participants in good jobs in federal key technology focus areas, and the requirements of inclusive talent creation continue to be embedded in these notices.
Manufacturing Month can be used for the development of these grants, and for ensuring historically marginalized communities are equipped with the proper resources and staffing to meet the requirements for a strong, substantive application.
Why Should Historically Marginalized Communities Submit Applications to Federal Investment Grants?
Federal investments in manufacturing are furthering equity, but as Dr. Williams explained above, challenges remain. Evaluations of equity in federal investments are indicated by the diversity of recipients, implementation strategies in the proposals, and job placement outcomes. In the Department of Commerce’s recently designated regional technology hubs (through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022), thirty-one hubs were awarded and twenty-two, or 71 percent, of hubs included partnerships with HBCUs or MSIs. Among the awardees, approximately twenty HBCUs are included as consortium members. This is unprecedented: typically, major funding, most recently philanthropic, has only been awarded to a handful of few well-known HBCUs. However, the vast majority of HBCUs are still chronically underfunded, despite these institutions awarding over a third of STEM degrees to Black students.
Through the Build Back Better Program, Winston-Salem State University, a HBCU in North Carolina, is one of the recipients of the $25 million to provide free workforce training in the biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical industries. Early wins are occuring. For example, one 58-year-old Black hair stylist, who was in cosmetology for nearly thirty-five years, is now changing careers to the biomanufacturing industry due to this funding. This is noteworthy because nearly 20 percent of residents in Winston-Salem are living in poverty, and 50 percent of residents are Black and Latino. With Winston-Salem’s use of federal investments in these industries, residents have an opportunity to earn up to $95,000 annually, and to make a real difference in their lives and communities.
In February 2024, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo launched the HBCU CHIPS Network to advance the microelectronics field among HBCU researchers, resources, and facilities. In August 2024, Clark Atlanta University, a HBCU, received $2 million to collaborate with the HBCU CHIPS Network and to close gaps in the semiconductor workforce. Although not all the economic outcomes of these types of investments are readily available, the early outcomes are trending positively, and there is a case to be made to ensure all federally funded workforce programs disaggregate participant outcomes by race. Historically marginalized communities should submit applications to federal investments: the Department of Commerce’s is explicitly focused on centering equity and inclusion among awardees. This is a window of opportunity these communities have to capitalize on regional economic development, and a measure of the economic justice that civil rights advocates have fought to secure for decades.
This is a window of opportunity these communities have to capitalize on regional economic development, and a measure of the economic justice that civil rights advocates have fought to secure for decades.
While the Biden–Harris administration’s focus on equity in federal investments is laudable, there is still work to be done, and we must concurrently fill in the gaps while celebrating the wins. A university’s criteria for receiving a federal grant can be dependent on the Carnegie classification and the quality of the infrastructure proposed for use in conducting the research. HBCUs do not have the best advantage for meeting these criteria because of systemic racism and institutional barriers. The 2018 Government Accountability Office report found that the federal government spent $42 billion in research and development for institutions of higher education, and of that, only 1 percent went to HBCUs. Currently, no HBCUs have the R1 designation, further locking them out of manufacturing investments related to research and innovation. The Biden–Harris administration recently increased research and infrastructure for HBCUs, MSIs, and Tribal colleges and universities through a Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant. However, the requirement of non-federal matching funds is still intact, which is a barrier, because states do not always provide a matching fund to HBCUs and MSIs. Applicants should first listen to the needs of HBCUs and how such an investment can contribute to their financial stability and progress toward R1 status.
How Can We Ensure That Engagement with Historically Marginalized Communities Is Intentional and Collaborative?
Engagement with these institutions can be made more intentional through open and transparent communication from the outset of the grant application process. Establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for all partners involved can help ensure that HBCUs and community-based organizations are not just token additions but valuable collaborators in shaping the future of manufacturing. Moreover, funding agencies should prioritize applications that demonstrate genuine partnerships and a commitment to building the capacity of historically underserved institutions. By fostering an environment of trust, respect, and mutual benefit, we can create a manufacturing ecosystem that truly reflects the diversity of our nation and harnesses the full potential of all our communities.
Looking Ahead, and Feedback from Recipients
In response to the historical exclusion of these stakeholders in manufacturing, as well as to turbulent race relations, The Century Foundation (TCF) and Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA) have facilitated the Industry and Inclusion National Program, to provide technical assistance in bolstering the success of learners of color in manufacturing. During this year’s Manufacturing Month, we will be convening those members of our most recent cohort who are recipients of federal investments, and positioning them to meet their equity metrics, as we do on a quarterly basis. We had the opportunity to survey a few of our members on what federal funding means for them, and what pain points still need to be addressed.
Stephen Tucker, president and CEO of the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo, New York, is a consortium member of a regional technology hub created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. When asked about his recent award, he commented that “the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub will not only drive innovation in semiconductor manufacturing, it will also create equitable access to high-quality jobs and career pathways, empowering the next generation of the manufacturing workforce.” Stephen is a national leader in developing a manufacturing workforce and relies heavily on community input, including overseeing a manufacturing job training center in the heart of a Black community in Buffalo.
TCF also partners with organizations in Ohio, most recently the Good Jobs Challenge. When speaking with Sylvia Rios, an Ohio TechNet grants project manager at Lorain County Community College, she said, “Earn-and-learn models that engaged new audiences in manufacturing were created under the DOL Scaling Apprenticeship grant, and later enhanced and replicated statewide under the EDA Good Jobs Challenge grant. While this work could not have happened without federal investments, there is opportunity for lessening restrictions on funds to better support students and participants where they are at, and having the flexibility to pivot our strategies when the ecosystem requires it.” As local stakeholders are the closest to the systemic roots of workforce challenges, having greater agility will allow them to better troubleshoot challenges a diverse workforce may face, from child care to housing assistance.
Federal investments to Alabama have made it possible to invest in a workforce in communities with the greatest need. Akareem Spears, dean of workforce development at Bishop State, a historically Black community college, describes the impacts of federal investments as “allowing community colleges to provide access and support to underserved student populations who are seeking high-wage, high-demand careers typically dominated by majority populations and access to a direct pipeline to the workforce.”
Detroit and Southeast Michigan are recipients of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and, through the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) program, historically excluded communities are being upskilled in the electric vehicle industry. Jacklyn Salazar, a project manager, explained that their “intentional outreach for our talent sector team includes listening sessions throughout the region, engagement with community-based organizations such as LISC, Junior Achievement, Goodwill Industries, and more. We engage with leadership at the municipality level and also share our GEM resources at career quests and career nights for our aspiring talent in the Southeast Michigan region.”
As we gear up for Manufacturing Month 2024, let us heed the insights and experiences of leaders like Dr. Williams, Stephen, Akareem, and Jacklyn. Let us commit to building an inclusive, community-driven manufacturing sector that leverages the full talents and potential of our diverse workforce. With HBCUs and community organizations at the forefront of this effort, we can make every month Manufacturing Month—and build a stronger, more resilient economy for all.
Tags: manufacturing, economic equity, federal investments
This Manufacturing Month, Let’s Discuss Equity in Federal Investments
Dr. Ronald C. Williams, director of the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship at Coppin State University, knows firsthand the challenges that leaders of color face when collaborating on major federal grants targeted at the manufacturing sector. In a recent proposal design process, despite the fact that many grant opportunities require the participation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Coppin State, Dr. Williams felt unacknowledged and undervalued. “I’m a child of the civil rights era, so I was emotionally traumatized by racism at a very early age. A lifetime of experiences has made me very aware of marginalization. It took me right back to that,” he recounts. In response, Dr. Williams took a stand. “I left the project. I informed the leadership of the project and my institution of my decision. Only after a visit from members and a very candid conversation did I decide to return.”
Dr. Williams’s experience underscores the urgent need to build a more inclusive and equitable manufacturing sector—a mission that lies at the heart of Manufacturing Month. Since its inception in 2012, Manufacturing Month has aimed to inspire the next generation of manufacturing talent by opening doors, igniting passions, and showcasing opportunities in an industry that provides the backbone of our economy. HBCUs like Coppin State University, and other similar organizations, play a critical role in this effort. As Dr. Williams notes, “We have demonstrated 125 years of being able to take students from wherever they are, whatever they bring to the table, and bring them to a place where they can be competitive in the marketplace.”
However, an equally long pattern of underinvestment continues to take its toll. In spite of increased attention and resources from initiatives like the Biden–Harris administration’s Build Back Better plan, many minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations still lack the infrastructure and capacity to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the manufacturing sector’s resurgence. “It doesn’t do you any good to have $20 million for a program, but you don’t have the back office to manage the grant, so you end up drowning under the weight of your success,” Dr. Williams explains. This is where the importance of Manufacturing Month comes in: it provides an opportunity to not only celebrate the industry, but also to address these critical issues and advocate for sustained support for institutions and communities that have historically been underserved. Manufacturing Month should be more than just a day or a month-long celebration: it should be a catalyst for year-round efforts to build capacity and create opportunities in communities that have been left behind.
Moreover, the challenges faced by HBCUs are just one example of a broader issue affecting many communities of color and underrepresented groups across the country. There is a widespread lack of education about modern manufacturing careers, particularly among younger generations. As Dr. Williams points out, “Now you have a couple of generations with no idea what manufacturing is because of offshoring and automation that accelerated in the ‘80s.”
Manufacturing Month 2024 presents an opportunity to change these dynamics. By showcasing the vital role of educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and community partners in cultivating a diverse manufacturing talent pipeline, advocating for sustained, year-round investment in these critical assets, and educating communities about the exciting opportunities in modern manufacturing, we can build a more inclusive and thriving manufacturing sector.
This is particularly important as new federal funding streams have been announced, such as the Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant and the Department of Commerce’s Good Jobs Challenge. Ensuring that historically underserved institutions and communities are aware of these opportunities and have the capacity to apply for and manage these funds will be critical to creating a more diverse and equitable manufacturing workforce.
Furthermore, as Dr. Williams’ experiences show, revitalizing manufacturing requires a focus on investing in community relationships and local production. He cites the example of a Baltimore makerspace that produced 28,000 face shields in fifty-six days during the pandemic, demonstrating the power of community-level relationships and the ability to respond quickly to local needs. Positively, we have seen the beginning of, and elevation of, intentional efforts at the federal level.
On the first night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), President Biden asserted that his administration is “giving America an infrastructure decade, not week.” He went on to tout the rebirth of American manufacturing and leveraging domestic talent—similarly implying the years, not a week, of job creation his administration’s industrial policies will implement. While these federal investments in manufacturing are described as once-in-a-generation, the permanency of manufacturing jobs, particularly in local communities that never had this type of funding, warrants attention throughout this year, something that has not occurred previously. Merely hosting a series of events in historically underserved communities for one month, without preparing the local leaders in these communities for how to apply and manage related federal investments, does these communities a disservice, and risks being more performative than supportive of systemic change.
What are the Federal Opportunities?
In the last four months of the Biden–Harris administration, there has continued to be a rollout of manufacturing federal investments, and states or educational institutions with sizable communities of color are eligible entities to submit applications. Here’s a breakdown of those opportunities.
1. The Department of Energy’s $50 Million to Strengthen America’s Auto Communities and Bolster Domestic Electric Vehicle Manufacturing is due on October 15, 2024. The grant will help small- and medium-size manufacturers adapt to the electric vehicle supply chain, while helping to maintain union and good-paying jobs. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee are eligible for this funding.
2. The National Science Foundation is accepting applications through December 6 for Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST Centers), with minority-serving institutions (MSIs) as the primary applicants. CREST Centers work to promote research and broaden participation in STEM, through supporting the scholarship of faculty at MSIs and the career pathways of historically excluded students.
3. The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration also posted a notice of funding through the Good Jobs Challenge, closing on September 27, 2024. Nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal governments are eligible consortium members to participate in sectoral partnerships that place participants in good jobs in federal key technology focus areas, and the requirements of inclusive talent creation continue to be embedded in these notices.
Manufacturing Month can be used for the development of these grants, and for ensuring historically marginalized communities are equipped with the proper resources and staffing to meet the requirements for a strong, substantive application.
Why Should Historically Marginalized Communities Submit Applications to Federal Investment Grants?
Federal investments in manufacturing are furthering equity, but as Dr. Williams explained above, challenges remain. Evaluations of equity in federal investments are indicated by the diversity of recipients, implementation strategies in the proposals, and job placement outcomes. In the Department of Commerce’s recently designated regional technology hubs (through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022), thirty-one hubs were awarded and twenty-two, or 71 percent, of hubs included partnerships with HBCUs or MSIs. Among the awardees, approximately twenty HBCUs are included as consortium members. This is unprecedented: typically, major funding, most recently philanthropic, has only been awarded to a handful of few well-known HBCUs. However, the vast majority of HBCUs are still chronically underfunded, despite these institutions awarding over a third of STEM degrees to Black students.
Through the Build Back Better Program, Winston-Salem State University, a HBCU in North Carolina, is one of the recipients of the $25 million to provide free workforce training in the biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical industries. Early wins are occuring. For example, one 58-year-old Black hair stylist, who was in cosmetology for nearly thirty-five years, is now changing careers to the biomanufacturing industry due to this funding. This is noteworthy because nearly 20 percent of residents in Winston-Salem are living in poverty, and 50 percent of residents are Black and Latino. With Winston-Salem’s use of federal investments in these industries, residents have an opportunity to earn up to $95,000 annually, and to make a real difference in their lives and communities.
In February 2024, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo launched the HBCU CHIPS Network to advance the microelectronics field among HBCU researchers, resources, and facilities. In August 2024, Clark Atlanta University, a HBCU, received $2 million to collaborate with the HBCU CHIPS Network and to close gaps in the semiconductor workforce. Although not all the economic outcomes of these types of investments are readily available, the early outcomes are trending positively, and there is a case to be made to ensure all federally funded workforce programs disaggregate participant outcomes by race. Historically marginalized communities should submit applications to federal investments: the Department of Commerce’s is explicitly focused on centering equity and inclusion among awardees. This is a window of opportunity these communities have to capitalize on regional economic development, and a measure of the economic justice that civil rights advocates have fought to secure for decades.
While the Biden–Harris administration’s focus on equity in federal investments is laudable, there is still work to be done, and we must concurrently fill in the gaps while celebrating the wins. A university’s criteria for receiving a federal grant can be dependent on the Carnegie classification and the quality of the infrastructure proposed for use in conducting the research. HBCUs do not have the best advantage for meeting these criteria because of systemic racism and institutional barriers. The 2018 Government Accountability Office report found that the federal government spent $42 billion in research and development for institutions of higher education, and of that, only 1 percent went to HBCUs. Currently, no HBCUs have the R1 designation, further locking them out of manufacturing investments related to research and innovation. The Biden–Harris administration recently increased research and infrastructure for HBCUs, MSIs, and Tribal colleges and universities through a Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant. However, the requirement of non-federal matching funds is still intact, which is a barrier, because states do not always provide a matching fund to HBCUs and MSIs. Applicants should first listen to the needs of HBCUs and how such an investment can contribute to their financial stability and progress toward R1 status.
How Can We Ensure That Engagement with Historically Marginalized Communities Is Intentional and Collaborative?
Engagement with these institutions can be made more intentional through open and transparent communication from the outset of the grant application process. Establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for all partners involved can help ensure that HBCUs and community-based organizations are not just token additions but valuable collaborators in shaping the future of manufacturing. Moreover, funding agencies should prioritize applications that demonstrate genuine partnerships and a commitment to building the capacity of historically underserved institutions. By fostering an environment of trust, respect, and mutual benefit, we can create a manufacturing ecosystem that truly reflects the diversity of our nation and harnesses the full potential of all our communities.
Looking Ahead, and Feedback from Recipients
In response to the historical exclusion of these stakeholders in manufacturing, as well as to turbulent race relations, The Century Foundation (TCF) and Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA) have facilitated the Industry and Inclusion National Program, to provide technical assistance in bolstering the success of learners of color in manufacturing. During this year’s Manufacturing Month, we will be convening those members of our most recent cohort who are recipients of federal investments, and positioning them to meet their equity metrics, as we do on a quarterly basis. We had the opportunity to survey a few of our members on what federal funding means for them, and what pain points still need to be addressed.
Stephen Tucker, president and CEO of the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo, New York, is a consortium member of a regional technology hub created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. When asked about his recent award, he commented that “the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub will not only drive innovation in semiconductor manufacturing, it will also create equitable access to high-quality jobs and career pathways, empowering the next generation of the manufacturing workforce.” Stephen is a national leader in developing a manufacturing workforce and relies heavily on community input, including overseeing a manufacturing job training center in the heart of a Black community in Buffalo.
TCF also partners with organizations in Ohio, most recently the Good Jobs Challenge. When speaking with Sylvia Rios, an Ohio TechNet grants project manager at Lorain County Community College, she said, “Earn-and-learn models that engaged new audiences in manufacturing were created under the DOL Scaling Apprenticeship grant, and later enhanced and replicated statewide under the EDA Good Jobs Challenge grant. While this work could not have happened without federal investments, there is opportunity for lessening restrictions on funds to better support students and participants where they are at, and having the flexibility to pivot our strategies when the ecosystem requires it.” As local stakeholders are the closest to the systemic roots of workforce challenges, having greater agility will allow them to better troubleshoot challenges a diverse workforce may face, from child care to housing assistance.
Federal investments to Alabama have made it possible to invest in a workforce in communities with the greatest need. Akareem Spears, dean of workforce development at Bishop State, a historically Black community college, describes the impacts of federal investments as “allowing community colleges to provide access and support to underserved student populations who are seeking high-wage, high-demand careers typically dominated by majority populations and access to a direct pipeline to the workforce.”
Detroit and Southeast Michigan are recipients of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and, through the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) program, historically excluded communities are being upskilled in the electric vehicle industry. Jacklyn Salazar, a project manager, explained that their “intentional outreach for our talent sector team includes listening sessions throughout the region, engagement with community-based organizations such as LISC, Junior Achievement, Goodwill Industries, and more. We engage with leadership at the municipality level and also share our GEM resources at career quests and career nights for our aspiring talent in the Southeast Michigan region.”
As we gear up for Manufacturing Month 2024, let us heed the insights and experiences of leaders like Dr. Williams, Stephen, Akareem, and Jacklyn. Let us commit to building an inclusive, community-driven manufacturing sector that leverages the full talents and potential of our diverse workforce. With HBCUs and community organizations at the forefront of this effort, we can make every month Manufacturing Month—and build a stronger, more resilient economy for all.
Tags: manufacturing, economic equity, federal investments