About Us
The MAC serves as a local voice in the federal debate about the transformation of the U.S. manufacturing industry. We work to preserve jobs and economic vitality in communities that depend upon the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Collaboration with Key Partners
MAC will continue to collaborate on our goals with key stakeholders, including advocates for American manufacuring, green manufacturing and green jobs organizations, nonprofits, phianthropic organizations, the RACER Trust, and federal agencies.
NLC/MAC Partnership
The MAC and the National League of Cities (NLC) launched a new Manufacturing Initiative in March 2016 at the NLC Congressional City Conference in Washington, DC. Together, MAC and NLC will: (1) Highlight the need for communities to maintain and attract manufacturing investment and jobs to promote a diversified local economy; (2) Promote advanced manufacturing to ensure that the manufacturing “pie” continues to grow as a percentage of the nation’s GDP and that all regions can share in the manufacturing economy; (3) Pursue funding for, and conduct research on, best practices for promoting growth in advanced industries in metropolitan regions; and (4) Ensure that manufacturing legislation and initiatives, such as federal grants and technical assistance, continue to be high on the agenda of the Executive and Legislative Branches.
Monthly Conference Calls
On the second Monday of each month at 2:00 p.m. EST, MAC holds monthly conference calls that convene manufacturing community leaders with key experts and stakeholders including federal agency officials, congressional officials, industry leaders, national coalitions and associations, and other influence leaders. The MAC monthly conference calls are open to all MAC members, MAC corporate sponsors and MAC government allies.
Technical Assistance, Roundtables, Workshops and Meetings for Manufacturing Communities
MAC provides technical assistance, guidance and advocacy services to individual local government members of the MAC, including connecting them to key federal officials, fostering their partnerships with private sector leaders, and providing technical review of proposals for community revitalization. This technical assistance focuses on helping localities pursue opportunities for grants, infrastructure funding and other resources. MAC also continues to hold roundtables in local communities across the nation, as well as other meetings including policy summits, Washington advocacy fly-ins, peer networking events and other meetings to serve local communities, build the alliance, advocacy for federal support, and pursue our policy agenda.
Policy Objectives
IMCP
MAC supports the “Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2015,” which codifies the Improving Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) program.
Infrastructure
Manufacturing cannot thrive without solid, modern infrastructure. MAC continues to advocate Congress and the Administration to re-invest in infrastructure to spur immediate jobs and foster long-term economic growth and resiliency.
Buy Local, Buy American
MAC continues to support the public sector movement to boost American manufacturing by making sure that government purchasing policies and practices are committed to “Buy Local & Buy American.”
Brownfields
The U.S. EPA Brownfields Program has a proven track record of supporting community revitalization for new manufacturing enterprise. MAC continues to support the Program and advocates for its expansion.
Economic Development Funding
MAC supports additional funding for Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant programs to enhance manufacturing jobs and the infrastructure needed to support manufacturing.
Manufacturing Innovation Institutes
MAC supports the Administration’s work to establish 50 “Manufacturing Innovation Institutes” across the country to support local and regional collaboration to develop and expand advance manufacturing technologies and processes.
Job Training
U.S. manufacturing needs a strong technical workforce. MAC supports increased federal funding for effective workforce development programs to ensure manufacturers have the workforce they need to stay globally competitive.
Presidential Transition
MAC is working with its key partners to ensure that the next Administration understands the needs of America’s manufacturing communities.
NEWS & PUBLICATIONS
MAC/NLC Task Force Roundtable at NLC City Summit – November 2016
Thank you for all who attended the Manufacturing Task Force Roundtable on November 17 at NLC’s City Summit 2016 in Pittsburgh. Below is an op-ed published by our Task Force Co-Chairs Mayor Bernero and Mayor Peduto.
Roadmap for Auto Community Revitalization
The Roadmap for Auto Community Revitalization was published in 2012 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of a partnership with MAC and the Department of Labor’s Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers to provide resources and information for local communities that were affected by the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry. Although targeted to auto communities, the Roadmap remains a helpful guide for all manufacturing communities with its case studies of impacted communities and its list of federal and other resources.
Guide to Leveraging Brownfields Revitalization
“Setting the Stage for Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization” is a guide published by the EPA that explores how communities can prepare to successfully leverage funding and other resources for brownfields revitalization. […]
MAC Platform
Our 2016 MAC Platform outlines our goals and initiatives for the next year. […]
Maker Mayors Action Report
The “Maker Mayors Action Report” was published in 2014 to highlight the efforts of mayors and cities across the nation to boost the Maker Movement in their communities and drive technological innovation. […]
Press Release: MAC Participates in First-Ever White House Maker Faire
Mayors from the MAC, including MAC Chair Dayne Walling, Mayor of Flint, MI; Founding MAC Chair Virg Bernero, Mayor of Lansing, MI; and Mayor Kevin Smith of Anderson, IN, participated in the with President Obama in the first-ever Maker Faire at the White House. […]
Mayors Maker Challenge Launch (Letter)
In May 2014, the MAC, in conjunction with a group of 20+ mayors, launched the Mayors Maker Challenge. The challenge asked mayors from manufacturing communities to make a pledge to boost manufacturing in their communities. […]
Our Team
Bill Hanka
Matt Ward
