Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1535247
W O R K F O R M E / S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 4 S p o n s o r L e t t e r Strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem for many years to come The Manufacturers Associa- tion of Maine (MAME) is once again pleased to be a part of the Work for ME publication, as we have been since its inception. Our partnership with Mainebiz has helped immeasurably to advance our manufacturing advocacy mission in a very tan- gible way. Much to many people's sur- prise, manufacturing has been growing in Maine. In fact, re- cent data shows that Maine's manufacturing GDP grew by 11.4% from Q1 2019 to Q3 2024, outpacing the national growth rate of 5.2% over the same pe- riod, according to the Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information. Between 2019 and 2024, man- ufacturing employment in Maine has grown approximately 4.1%, and average annual wages in the sector increased by 20.6%, bring- ing the average manufacturing salary to $68,120. Manufacturing now accounts for 11.2% of all private-sector wages in Maine, representing a 12.7% wage pre- mium over the statewide average across all industries. However, even with a com- pelling story to tell regarding the opportunities that exist in Maine's manufacturing economy, manufacturers across the state continue to identify the challenge in finding sufficient people to staff and support their growth ambitions as their biggest. As a consequence, the Manufacturers Association has gone to work pro- viding support to manufacturers facing recruitment and retention challenges, building internship and apprenticeship programs for young people interested in manu- facturing careers, and generally using its Employer Growth Ser- vices network of affiliated orga- nizations to not only solve today's issues, but build a framework for a sustainable employee pipeline for the future. In addition to the workforce development issues, the MAME network of member companies assist in everything from strategic plan and succes- sion development, to sales and marketing revitalization, to lean and other process-based improve- ment opportunities. Current programming at the association includes partnering with Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services of Lewiston) to establish resources for small and medium-sized com- panies that want to access the diverse talent pool in Maine, but don't know where to start that process. In October 2024, MAME kicked off Manufacturing Month with an event in Portsmouth, N.H., at the USS Albacore, high- lighting career opportunities in the maritime industrial base, which drew almost 500 interested young people from schools across southern Maine. The strength of the MAME model is clear, enabling member companies to shorten the path to improvement by learning from each other and working together to tap into Maine assets that will support their continued growth. To strengthen that foundation for growth, MAME has an aggressive advocacy posture, working to as- sure that at the legislature in Au- gusta, and with the young people of Maine and their parents, we are presenting both the challenges and the opportunities in manu- facturing, in order to strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem for many years to come. — Mike Roughton Executive Director Manufacturers Association of Maine mike@mainemfg.com Manufacturers Association of Maine Mike Roughton P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A M E The strength of the MAME model is clear, enabling member companies to shorten the path to improvement by learning from each other and working together to tap into Maine assets that will support their continued growth.