Dear Friends,
Manufacturing is a major part of the economy here in Southeastern North Carolina, supporting good-paying jobs, local businesses, and the products and infrastructure our communities rely on every day. All throughout this district, manufacturers are an important part of our local economy and workforce.
In recognition of National Manufacturing Week, I want to highlight the important role manufacturing plays across our district and our state — from creating jobs and strengthening our workforce to building the products and materials America needs to grow.
Below, you can learn more about manufacturing in NC-07, recent investments in North Carolina, and how recent policy changes are helping create an environment where American manufacturers can invest, expand, and create more good-paying jobs.
If you received this newsletter from a friend, and would like to continue receiving these updates, you can subscribe here or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
|
America should be the best place in the world to build, invest, and manufacture. That means having a skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure, a competitive tax code, and a regulatory environment that gives businesses the confidence to make investments here at home.
That is why I supported H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, last year. The law allows manufacturers to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying investments in new equipment and in certain new manufacturing and production facilities. For a business deciding whether to purchase a new production line, expand an existing plant, or build a new facility, policies like these can help make investing in America more competitive.
Just as important is having the infrastructure necessary to move workers, materials, and finished products efficiently.
As Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, I helped lead the effort to craft the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act, a five-year reauthorization of our nation’s surface transportation programs. The bill makes major investments in roads and bridges, strengthens freight mobility, gives states greater flexibility to address their most important transportation needs, and includes reforms aimed at cutting red tape and delivering projects more efficiently.
For manufacturers, a reliable transportation network is essential to getting raw materials into plants, finished products to customers, and workers to their jobs. The BUILD America 250 Act is designed to strengthen those connections while making long-term investments in the infrastructure that keeps our economy moving and American businesses competitive. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill with broad bipartisan support earlier this year. It now awaits further action in the House to bring it to the floor for passage.
We should continue working to remove unnecessary barriers to investment, strengthen our workforce and infrastructure, and give American manufacturers the certainty they need to grow. The goal is simple: more products made in America, stronger domestic supply chains, and more opportunities for American workers.
|
North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in manufacturing output, generating approximately $112 billion in economic activity across the state. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, our diverse district is home to 468 manufacturing establishments employing 28,300 workers. From large industrial facilities to local manufacturers, these businesses create jobs, support families, and strengthen communities across Southeastern North Carolina.
Manufacturing remains a major part of Southeastern North Carolina’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs across NC-07. From rural and more urban communities to our coastal counties, manufacturers provide good-paying jobs and help strengthen local economies. |
North Carolina continues to attract major manufacturing investment. Just this week, Caterpillar announced plans to invest approximately $1 billion in the state to expand its manufacturing capacity, including a new facility in Sanford for their compact track loaders and telehandlers.
The facility is expected to incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies including automation, robotics, digital production systems, and integrated logistics. Caterpillar cited North Carolina’s strong workforce and existing manufacturing expertise as important reasons for its continued investment in the state.
A billion-dollar investment like this is a significant vote of confidence in North Carolina’s workforce and manufacturing economy. We should continue building on that strength by making our state and country the place where manufacturers want to invest, expand, and create long-term careers.
|
In case you missed it, I recently visited Fayetteville’s Oldcastle Infrastructure to see firsthand the work that goes into producing materials used in the roads, bridges, water systems, and other infrastructure our communities depend on every day.
Companies like Oldcastle demonstrate the close connection between American manufacturing and the infrastructure needed to support growing communities. The materials manufactured at facilities like this become part of the transportation and utility systems families, businesses, and local governments rely on every day.
I appreciate the opportunity to meet with manufacturers in our district and see the work they are doing right here in North Carolina. Supporting American manufacturing and investing in reliable infrastructure go hand in hand, helping keep our economy moving forward.
As North Carolina continues to grow, we must make sure our infrastructure keeps pace. That means investing wisely in roads, bridges, water systems, and other critical infrastructure while making it easier to deliver projects much more timely and efficiently.
I appreciated the opportunity to meet with employees at the facility, learn more about their work, and hear directly about the issues facing manufacturers in our district.
|
A strong manufacturing economy also depends on having the skilled workforce needed to support it.
Columbus County and Whiteville City Schools partnered with Southeastern Community College to give the next generation of workers hands-on experience in a variety of career fields. Congratulations to the 79 students who completed the program, exploring careers in agribusiness, art, automotive, construction, engineering, healthcare, HVAC, and welding. I know the skills and experience they gained will serve them well for years to come!
This program is a great example of what happens when our schools, community colleges, educators, and community leaders work together to prepare students for the workforce. Thank you to everyone who helped make this program possible, and best wishes to all of the students who participated! Read more about the student’s hard work here.
|
"The great interests of an agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing nation are so linked in union together that no permanent cause of prosperity to one of them can operate without extending its influence to the others. All these interests are alike under the protecting power of the legislative authority, and the duties of the representative bodies are to conciliate them in harmony together." - John Quincy Adams |
|
