Wisconsin’s economy is known beyond its borders for some good things – a diverse agricultural economy, growing technology sectors and statewide tourism appeal – but the brightest marquee is manufacturing.
Keeping that light shining means adjusting to change faster than competitors at home and abroad.
Wisconsin is one of the nation’s most manufacturing-intensive states, with $71.5 billion in gross domestic product, about 9,000 companies of all sizes and nearly 500,000 manufacturing jobs – which equates to one in six workers in the state’s total workforce.
Those are all facts worth celebrating during October’s “Manufacturing Month,” which is being marked by events such as the “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” contest produced by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.