The Indiana Manufacturing Association wants to help re-open the state for business and bring thousands of RV industry employees back to work.
On Friday morning, April 24, the group shared a cosigned letter it sent to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb showing support for re-opening the economy. Manufacturing leaders from across the Midwest sent the joint letter to the governors of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
“Governors of our respective states joined together and recently announced a collaboration to help mitigate the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, and to work together to coordinate the reopening of our economies in a way that prioritizes safety and health,” Indiana Manufacturers Association President and CEO Brian Burton said. “To assist in that effort, organizations representing manufacturers in each of these states have come together to provide assistance in this reopening effort.”
Click here to read the joint letter sent to Midwest governors.
The group includes the Indiana Manufacturers Association, as well as the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.
Collectively, the manufacturers associations in these Midwestern states represent nearly 3.5 million women and men employed in manufacturing. This accounts for 27% of all manufacturing jobs in the United States and has a direct economic output of $580 billion annually.
The coalition is focused on reigniting the economy, and believes there is no better economic sector to respond than American manufacturing.
“Today’s manufacturers are stepping up to the enormous challenges this pandemic has caused,” Burton said. “They are ramping up production, retooling their operations, making and donating life-saving equipment and medicines, providing the tools for necessary infrastructure, ensuring the transport of needed materials, and providing good wages and benefits to employees and their families. Our seven Midwestern states will work together to ensure a safe and responsible restart of our economy.”
In Indiana, many manufacturers fall under the current definition of essential business or essential infrastructure.
According to the Indiana Manufacturing Association, these businesses have demonstrated their ability to operate safely while providing goods and services needed in the economy.
Indiana is the most manufacturing intensive state in America. It accounts for over $100 billion of our state’s economy and directly employs over 500,000 Hoosiers.
