On October 7, 2022, ACED celebrated National Manufacturing Day in Audubon County

On October 7, 2022, ACED celebrated National Manufacturing Day in Audubon County.

Audubon County Economic Development (ACED) hosted a career day for area high schools students and a job fair. This type of event is very important to attendees and the companies to highlight various career fields and showcased our local businesses.

Iowa is home to approximately 6,080 manufacturing companies and contributes $34.0 billion to Iowa’s economy. Manufacturing employs over 226,000 people on average in Iowa. Over the next decade, 4 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed, and 2.1 million are expected to go unfilled if we do not inspire more people to pursue modern manufacturing careers. Moreover, according to a recent report, the cost of those missing jobs could potentially total $1 trillion in 2030 alone. (Source: Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute)

If you were asked “what is manufactured in Iowa?” – the most common response is machinery, but manufacturing in Iowa is so much more!  Food, beverage and tobacco products, machinery, chemical products, computer and electrical products, fabricated metal products, mineral products, plastics and rubber products, primary metals, electrical equipment and appliances, and wood products are the top ten products produced in Iowa.

Audubon High School, IKM-Manning and Coon Rapids-Bayard brought a combined total of over 90 students and staff to visit with nine local companies: Accusteel, Amanco (Astec), AMVC, Eagle Acres, Global Precision Parts, Puck Enterprises,Inc, TNT Industries, Van Wall Equipment, Vetter Equipment, and DMACC.  Students had a Bingo card to win prizes and were encouraged to visit with the representatives about career paths within their prospective companies.

This event was well attended and plans are underway for a larger event next year.

Submitted by Sara Slater Audubon County Economic Development & Tourism, Director