SENATOR VALENTINO CELEBRATES MANUFACTURING DAY AT KENNEBEC TECHNOLOGIES

Praises “new generation” of Maine manufacturing

AUGUSTA – Today, in celebration of National Manufacturing Day, Senator Linda Valentino of Saco visited Kennebec Technologies for the presentation of Maine Manufacturing and Extension Partnership’s Manufacturer of the Year award.

Reps. Fowle and Pouliot, Kennebec Technologies owner Wick Johnson, and Senators Valentino and Katz.

“A strong manufacturing sector is key to a strong economy,” said Senator Valentino, the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Workforce Committee. “This is a great honor for Kennebec Technologies, and Maine is very fortunate to have such a strong company doing business here.”

Last session, the Workforce Committee developed a first-of-its-kind workforce development bill to address the skills gap in Maine. The bipartisan law was unanimously recommended by the committee and overwhelmingly supported by both the House and the Senate.

In 2014, the committee will address work readiness, business growth, and entrepreneurship in Maine.

Today also marked the launch of the “Dream it. Do it.” program in Maine, a project of the Manufacturing Institute to attract and recruit qualified workers into the manufacturing workforce. Here in Maine, the program will be managed by the Maine Manufacturing and Extension Partnership.

“It’s important for people to know about the changes that have taken place in the manufacturing industry,” added Senator Valentino. “This is a new generation of Maine manufacturing, not the manufacturing of our parents’ and grandparents’ generations. The “Dream it. Do It.” program will help promote and strengthening the Maine manufacturing industry.”

The Workforce Committee has invited the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership to discuss the “Dream it. Do it.” program at the committee’s October 21 meeting at the State House.

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