NEBRASKA LAUNCHES DREAM IT. DO IT. CAREERS CAMPAIGN IN RESPONSE TO SKILLED WORKER SHORTAGE

Manufacturing Jobs Campaign Steps Up Multi-Regional Expansion

LINCOLN, NE, Sept. 8, 2006 – Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman joined state business leaders, educators and other groups with an interest in the economic future of Nebraska at the launch today of Dream It. Do It., a multi-regional careers and economic development campaign aimed at attracting young people to manufacturing careers and expanding their educational and training opportunities.

Sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its research and education arm, The Manufacturing Institute, Dream It. Do It. began as a pilot program in Kansas City in Feb. 2005, where it has produced encouraging results. The campaign will launch in southwest Virginia in early October and in several other regions across the country this year.

“America can’t compete without skilled workers,” said NAM President and CEO John Engler at a news conference in Lincoln. “Eighty percent of NAM members have trouble finding qualified employees for today’s high-tech workplace. This problem is getting worse as the Baby Boom generation retires. Dream It. Do It. is our unique grassroots solution to excite young people about careers in modern manufacturing and help them prepare for the growing technical demands of the workplace.”

“We applaud Tony Raimondo for bringing the Dream It. Do It. campaign to Nebraska,” Engler said. Raimondo is chairman of Behlen Mfg. Co. in Columbus, NE, and chairs the Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition which will manage the Dream It. Do It. campaign in Lincoln, Omaha and Columbus.

“Our goal is to expand Dream It. Do It. throughout Nebraska by expanding our new strong alliance of business, educational, workforce, economic development and political leaders,” Raimondo said. “This campaign will help drive rural economic development in our state. Manufacturing contributes $7 billion to Nebraska’s economy every year, but our industry is threatened by a shortage of skilled people to work in Nebraska’s cutting edge manufacturing industries. Dream It. Do It. aims to close that skills gap by promoting manufacturing careers to young people and connecting them with local educational and training opportunities and jobs.”

“Too many young people have an outdated view of manufacturing and don’t consider it to be an interesting or rewarding career,” noted Jerry Jasinowski, president of The Manufacturing Institute. “Dream It. Do It. puts a real and exciting new face on today’s cutting edge manufacturing for 16-26 years, their parents and educators. We’ve seen real success with our Kansas City pilot program, where enrollment in manufacturing-related courses at the local technical school has increased by 35 percent, and polls show a significant positive change in attitudes about manufacturing careers,” he said.

“Dream It. Do It. is the unique and home-grown initiative of The Manufacturing Institute. Today’s launch in Nebraska brings us one step closer to making

Dream It. Do It. a national campaign that will persuade more young people across the country to prepare for and pursue a career in manufacturing,” Jasinowski said.

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For more information, visit www.dreamit-doit.com.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
LAURA NARVAIZ (202) 637-3104
PHYLLIS EISEN (202) 637-3011