WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act, legislation that would help revitalize the country’s manufacturing sector and help create good-paying manufacturing jobs throughout the country.

The bill was also introduced in the House by U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.), Congressman Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.).

The bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act would codify into law a successful program, the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP), started by the Obama Administration, which allows communities around the country to compete to receive preferential consideration for federal economic development funds. 24 communities around the country have already been designated “Manufacturing Communities” and have received targeted investment and support to make their regions more competitive. The program’s future is uncertain without authorizing legislation, but this bipartisan bill would make it permanent so that more communities around the country can compete for this designation.

“With eight West Virginia counties participating in the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership, this legislation will help strengthen and support the manufacturing industry in the Mountain State. One such example has been in Weirton, West Virginia, where a welding company received financial assistance to help expand and renovate their property. I am glad to join with my House and Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that will help strengthen our manufacturing sector and promote needed job growth in West Virginia,” said Senator Capito.

This legislation encourages a regionally-driven approach to strengthening the manufacturing industry. To compete for funding through this program and earn the “Manufacturing Communities” designation, communities would create regional partnerships with key stakeholders such as local and state economic development officials, local governments, manufacturers, labor organizations, and higher education or other training providers. In order to earn the Manufacturing Communities designation, communities would demonstrate the significance of manufacturing in their region and develop strategies to utilize their “Manufacturing Communities” designation in making investments in six areas: 

  • Workforce training and retraining;
  • Advanced research;
  • Infrastructure and site development;
  • Supply chain support;
  • Promotion of exports and foreign direct investment; and
  • Operational improvement and capital access for manufacturers that supports energy or process efficiency, equipment or facility upgrades, the development of business incubators, among other activities.

Today’s announcement follows years of work by the House Members and Senators to strengthen American manufacturing.

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