Governor Markell, Senator Coons, Congressman Carney host U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker for series of events surrounding National Manufacturing Day

Press Release

Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, and U.S. Congressman John Carney (both D-Del.) will host U.S. Secretary of Commerce and member of President Obama's Cabinet, Penny Pritzker to celebrate National Manufacturing Day on Friday, October 2. National Manufacturing Day is a growing movement dedicated to overcoming the industry's shared challenges, encouraging careers in one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and inspiring the next generation of manufacturers. The group will tour two of Delaware's most creative manufacturers in the morning and will host a roundtable discussion at Hagley Museum.

Sen. Coons is co-chair and founder of the Manufacturing Jobs for America Initiative, a package of legislation that would help manufacturers grow and create jobs, and refocus Washington's attention on the 11 million Americans still looking for work. The bills come from more than twenty senators from around the country, and center on four general themes: strengthening America's 21st century workforce, opening markets abroad, creating the conditions necessary for growth, and expanding access to capital.

The tour will start at Newark-based Accudyne. Established in 1996, Accudyne designs and develops one-of-a-kind equipment and processes for each customer's specific requirements. The tour will take guests through the design, fabrication, assembly, and testing phases of one of their products. Accudyne currently has 35 employees. The location of the second phase of the tour will be at fifth-generation manufacturer and woman-owned business, M. Davis. Founded in 1870 as a tinsmith shop, M. Davis today is a full-service industrial construction company, providing design and build, fabrication, engineering and maintenance for national and international clients in industries that include oil and gas, chemical, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical. Last year, the company earned $53 million in revenue, and their CEO, Peggy Davis Del Fabbro, received the Women's Business Enterprise Star Award, honoring exemplary women business leaders, from the WBE National Council.

"To lead in the global economy, we must engage the next generation of workers and excite our youth about the potential of a career in manufacturing," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. "At the Department of Commerce, we created Manufacturing Day to help the public, and young people in particular, understand that manufacturers are innovative, inventive businesses, where workers develop and use the latest technology and build lasting, middle class careers. The commitment of our nation's manufacturers to host events on Manufacturing Day provides Americans with a better understanding of modern manufacturing, and highlights the importance of a strong manufacturing sector to our nation's long-term economic health."

"I am looking forward to hosting Secretary Pritzker and her staff in Wilmington on National Manufacturing Day, and showing her how Delaware is leading the way on connecting manufacturers to new young workers," said Sen. Coons. "Her work and advocacy on behalf of American manufacturing and her understanding of growing manufacturing jobs in Delaware and across the country is imperative in expanding our middle class."

"We need to make things in America again to grow our economy and create jobs for the middle class," said Congressman Carney.  "That's why I helped introduce the Make it in America agenda in the House.  And why I'm glad Secretary Pritzker is visiting Delaware to mark National Manufacturing Day.  It's a chance to recognize manufacturers doing great things in our state, and to focus on creating more manufacturing jobs to benefit consumers, support workers, and strengthen the economy."

"Manufacturing Week provides an opportunity to both celebrate the important contributions of this industry, while reinforcing Delaware's commitment to support its evolution, recognizing a strong manufacturing sector today looks different than in decades past," said Governor Markell. "We are delighted to host Secretary Pritzker and showcase our ongoing efforts in this field."