UMA is proud to release two major publications as we head into the summer: our first federal policy agenda and our Industry & Inclusion 4.0 Project report! These documents represent many, many hours of collaborative work that took place over the past fifteen months. We have worked with dozens of thoughtful partners to generate the ideas and stories represented in these documents, and we could not be more grateful. We hope you can add these to your summer reading list!
We are also participating in three events where we will share the (virtual) stage with partners and discuss many of the lessons learned through these and other projects:
- This afternoon… Join us for a discussion hosted by Next City, “Centering Equity in Our Federal Strategy for Urban Manufacturing.” This event will mark the release of our federal policy agenda and focus on the theme of workforce development.
- Tomorrow, on Thursday, June 17th… Register today to hear from community-based practitioners and the author of UMA’s recently released report about how faith-informed organizations are supporting manufacturing employment and entrepreneurship.
- On Thursday, June 24th… You’re invited by the Century Foundation, Groundwork Collaborative, and UMA to our upcoming day-long virtual conference “What Do Trade and Manufacturing Have to Do with Racial Justice?”
Thank you, as always, for being a part of the movement to grow more equitable economies through manufacturing. If you have news you would like to share with the UMA community please send us a message and let us know what you are working on!
In partnership,
The UMA Team
Research and Programming News
A thriving manufacturing sector is the linchpin of any healthy economy. But typically, federal support for manufacturing skews toward large-scale companies, rather than to the small and micro-businesses that now make up the majority of manufacturing companies in cities. This policy agenda explores how federal resources can translate to a local framework that connects residents of underserved communities to higher-wage manufacturing jobs. At a time when funds are flowing and talk of recovery and racial equity are front of mind, we want policy makers to think about what role cities can play in directing those resources to the businesses that will be instrumental in building inclusive, community-based economic resiliency.
Click here to download a copy!
As our year-long Industry & Inclusion 4.0 project comes to an end, we are excited to share profiles of our cohort member organizations and insights gained from learning sessions, webinars, and collaborative discussions about the current state and future of workforce development. UMA’s newest report — “Industry & Inclusion: Manufacturing workforce strategies building an inclusive future” — strives to answer the driving question behind the I&I project: How do community-embedded workforce organizations center racial equity, credentialing, and training to create a stronger neighborhoods? The report features a collection of technical descriptions of each of the I&I cohort member organizations and personal profiles of local stakeholders — from educators and trainees, to staff and service providers. Along with these snapshots are reflections on the commonalities among the organizations despite working in different cities, with different audiences, and engaging different manufacturing ecosystems.
We surprised ourselves when the final packaged report came in at over 125 pages (don’t worry there won’t be a quiz!). In the coming months we will be sharing their stories and profiles individually by cohort member organization.
Click here to download a copy!
UMA’s report is published in tandem with The Century Foundation’s forthcoming “Blueprint for Action.”
Calendar
Wednesday June 16 — TODAY
1:00pmET
Virtual Panel Discussion
Centering Equity in Our Federal Strategy for Urban Manufacturing
Join us for a discussion hosted by Next City, “Centering Equity in Our Federal Strategy for Urban Manufacturing.” This event will follow the release of UMA’s first federal policy agenda.
Guests will discuss how federal policy can inform and expand opportunities for urban communities in manufacturing. This panel will talk through how to develop cross-sector and interdisciplinary solutions to workforce development; how to channel forthcoming cash infusions into the communities that will benefit most; and how to cultivate an infrastructure that supports clean energy businesses at a time when the Biden Administration has pledged to cut U.S. carbon emissions in half by 2030.
Thursday June 17
1:30pmET
Fireside Chat
How Faith-Informed Organizations are Supporting Manufacturing Employment and Entrepreneurship
In cities where we’re seeing renewed opportunities in manufacturing, faith-based and faith-informed organizations are emerging as partners or connectors in the manufacturing sector. These organizations, who are driven by a mission to end poverty, are becoming critical partners to inclusive manufacturing growth. The role of faith-based and faith-informed organizations in linking their communities with new opportunities in the manufacturing sector is wide-ranged and shaped based on the organization’s capacities, needs of the community they care for, and the manufacturing landscape specific to the region.
In this fireside chat, you will hear from three community-based practitioners and the author of UMA’s recently released report. They will discuss the role of their organizations in the manufacturing sector and how they rely on faith-based and faith-informed organizations and communities to work together towards a common goal of reducing economic disparities while building community wealth.
Thursday June 24
11:00am — 5:00pmET
Day-long virtual conference
What Do Trade and Manufacturing Have To Do with Racial Justice?
The Century Foundation, Groundwork Collaborative, and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming day-long virtual conference “What Do Trade and Manufacturing Have to Do with Racial Justice?” on Thursday, June 24th from 11:00am to 5:00pmET.
The conference will discuss the central role for progressive trade and manufacturing policy in the post-pandemic push for racial justice and the creation of a sustainable and equitable economy. The event will include keynotes and panels featuring new research by key labor & economic thinkers and leaders and commentary from grassroots leaders who are fighting for a more equitable future.
News from the Community
Manufacturing Renaissance is hosting a panel discussion featuring Congressional and manufacturing leaders to discuss current federal policy opportunities supporting manufacturing in the Chicagoland area. Speakers include:
- Jan Schakowsky — Congresswoman of the 9th IL District
- Danny Davis — Congressman of the 7th IL District
- Steven Rauschenberger — Technology and Manufacturing Association
- Andrew Stettner — The Century Foundation
- Timothy Wright III — Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer P.A.
The online discussion is on June 21, 2021 at 03:00 PM Central Time. Register Here!
Formed in 2005, the Chicagoland Manufacturing Renaissance Council (CMRC) is a regional coalition that promotes manufacturing as a tool for social inclusion and community development.
Photo Credit: Manufacturing Renaissance
The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation is hosting a discussion on the Biden Administration and 117th Congress’ prioritization of U.S. Manufacturing. Speakers Include:
- Matt Bogoshian — Executive Director, American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative
- Jon Cardinal — Director of Economic Development, Office of Senator Charles Schumer
- Mark Muro — Fellow and Policy, Director Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program
- Ronald Williams — Director of Strategic Entrepreneurship Center, Coppin State University
- Stephen Ezell — Vice President, Global Innovation Policy Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
“The Biden administration and 117th Congress are developing a wide range of executive orders and legislation to stimulate manufacturing competitiveness. Bills such as the Endless Frontiers Act, the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act, and the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy Act, among others, would increase R&D investments, bolster the manufacturing workforce, empower regional manufacturing communities, address supply chain and reshoring objectives, expand the Manufacturing USA and Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs, and even reimagine the way federal government structures its approach to stimulating manufacturing innovation.”
The virtual webinar is on June 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. Register Here!
Please share your news with us! If you have something you would like UMA and our network to know about, please contact Eva, UMA’s Community Leader to share details to include in next month’s newsletter.
What We’re Reading
Do Manufacturers Need to Create Better Jobs?
By: Adrienne Selko
April 2021
“While the intent after the recession in 2008 was just to get everyone back to work, we need to have a wider view this time around,” explains Amanda Cage, CEO of The National Fund for Workforce Solutions. “The intent now should be to ensure that employees are getting high-quality jobs and ensuring workforce equity.
Both of these issues describe the mission of The National Fund for Workforce Solutions. The organization works with a network of 30 collaboratives across the country in an effort to improve both business practices and public policies that strengthens the workforce.
The process of figuring out where to start creating better jobs and offering a framework to achieve that is how The National Fund for Workforce Solutions works with companies. “We put together a framework of job quality that is on a continuum so that the companies can see themselves in this framework and then choose what works for them,” says Cage.”
Read the full article at:
Industry Week
Registered Apprenticeships:
The Foundation America Needs
By: Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.)
May 2021
“Our country needs a well-trained workforce to help fill the jobs of the future, and apprenticeships are critical to our success as we continue to recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus. We need electricians and computer programmers, just like we need doctors and lawyers. It’s more important now than ever that we understand education is not “one size fits all.” When my children were growing up, I didn’t know if they’d want to go to college, build the college or defend it. We must promote job training programs and apprenticeships in the same way we promote traditional four-year colleges because without these highly-skilled workers, our economy cannot recover.
I worked closely with House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) to pass the bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 (NAA) to provide students and workers all over the country the ability to pursue apprenticeship opportunities. This legislation strengthens the proven models developed by the Registered Apprenticeship Program — America’s most successful workforce program — and will create and expand Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs.”
Read the full article at:
The Hill
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Since 2015, UMA has grown to encompass 900+ members in more than 200 cities — and counting. Whether you’re a city council member, an urban planner, the executive director of a kitchen incubator, or a small artisan jewelry maker, UMA’s goal is to design a network based on your feedback, expertise, and questions about the future of the industry. Your individual tax-deductible contribution will empower us to bring our members together to learn from one another (online and in person), to tell stories showing the value of manufacturing to a city’s economy, and to document and replicate promising practices with city-based partners. Make a donation today!
