Timmons arrived in Alabama as part of NAM’s 2018 “State of Manufacturing” Tour, which has already taken him to Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana. Later this month, he’ll be in Kansas, California and Missouri.

The tour comes as manufacturers’ confidence in the future has skyrocketed. In the midst of tax reform and regulatory relief, 95 percent of respondents expressed a positive outlook for their companies’ future in the NAM’s latest Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey.

“Our focus on this tour is telling the story of modern manufacturing and the incredible opportunities we have for well-paying, rewarding careers — whether it’s a first career or a new career,” Timmons said.

While in Birmingham, NAM officials also visited Lawson State Community College and Innovation Depot, one of the South’s largest technology business incubators.

We just arrived! @innovationdepot housed over 100 tech companies, over 800 employees, and more than $126 million in sales in 2016. #MFGTour2018 pic.twitter.com/yjIQQJ3e7a

— The NAM (@ShopFloorNAM) February 15, 2018

MANUFACTURING GROWTH

“Manufacturing, particularly advanced manufacturing, is a big part of our economy. ”

Topics discussed during the meeting at Altec included a proposed federal infrastructure plan, tax reform, and workforce development, particularly how to encourage young people to pursue careers in manufacturing.

Secretary Canfield told the group that the state’s robust manufacturing sector has been a key driver of employment growth in recent years.

Nearly 270,000 Alabamians held manufacturing jobs in January, and the sector has gained more than 36,000 jobs since 2011, an increase of 15 percent, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis.

“Manufacturing, particularly advanced manufacturing, is a big part of our economy, so we want to do everything we can to support the right business climate, the right tax environment, and the right regulatory environment,” Canfield said.

“We think that, with NAM’s work and our partnership with them, we will continue to see an improved environment for advanced manufacturing across the US, but particularly in Alabama,” he said.

BALANCING TRADE

In addition, the group discussed thorny issues emerging in the debate over the future direction of NAFTA and global trade, which could profoundly affect industries and companies on many different levels.

“We have to tackle this trade issue because there are a lot of concerns and a lot of uncertainly circling trade,” Secretary Canfield said.

That’s important because many Alabama business are involved in exporting, driving the state’s overseas shipments to a new annual record in 2017.

Altec, for instance, delivers products and services to more than 100 countries. Founded in 1929, the company produces lift trucks and other products to customers in the electric utility, telecommunications, tree care and other industries.

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