Affiliate Spotlight: Delaware Manufacturing Association

BY TYLER MICIK

The Delaware Manufacturing Association (DMA), an affiliate of the State Chamber, met in late June for their quarterly meeting. The DMA’s mission is to enhance the competitiveness of Delaware manufacturers, serve as manufacturers’ advocate at the state and local governmental level, advise the State Chamber on topics that specifically impact manufacturers—such as government regulation, trade and tax policy—and sponsor networking events focused on the needs of manufacturers.

Given the timing of the meeting, the committee discussed several policy issues pending before the General Assembly. Of note was HB 435, the Community Workforce Agreement; HB 487, Craft Training Requirements in Public Works Contracts; and SB 305, the Climate Change Solutions Act. While all these bills did not pass this session, they will likely be worked on again next year and will have a direct impact on not only manufacturers but also all Delaware employers and their employees.

The committee also discussed new opportunities to reach young talented individuals and produced new ideas to break an old narrative—that manufacturing in Delaware is dead or manufacturing jobs are dirty, and employees are underpaid. The truth is this narrative couldn’t be further from reality. In fact, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), manufacturing employment rose nationally by 29,000 in June. Through the first six months of the year, the sector hired 242,000 employees, building on the 365,000 workers added in 2021—the most since 1994. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Labor Statistics, manufacturing workers in the United States earned $92,832 on average, including pay and benefits.

Did you know that there are more than 700 manufacturers in the First State? Manufacturing in Delaware is thriving and growing, and great opportunities exist. Manufacturers are looking for people who are interested in not only building their future but also the future of Delaware. If you are a manufacturer in the First State and want to help grow and strengthen Delaware’s manufacturing sector, the DMA is for you. Contact Tyler Micik at tmicik@dscc.com to learn more.