Governor Patrick Discusses Manufacturing Jobs in Worcester

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Saturday, March 10, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Gov. Patrick's cabinet meeting held inside Worcester's MassMEP facility.

Governor Deval Patrick held his weekly cabinet meeting in Worcester yesterday, and discussed options for growing the manufacturing industry throughout the Commonwealth.

The Governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and his cabinet for the meeting, followed by a tour of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership (MassMEP) located in Worcester. MassMEP is a not-for-profit center that provides training and assistance to help Commonwealth manufacturers grow through improved manufacturing techniques and business strategies.

“Manufacturing is a critical part of the Massachusetts economy and we are committed to providing workers and businesses with the tools and resources to continue to thrive in the 21st century global economy,” Governor Patrick said. “Because of MassMEP we are creating and retaining manufacturing jobs all over the Commonwealth, and I look forward to our continued partnership.”

The manufacturing industry in Massachusetts currently employs 260,000 people, and has added just over 2,100 jobs in the past year. MassMEP clients created over 1,500 new jobs in 2010 alone, and retained over 4,500 jobs. The center has also trained nearly 15,000 people in the past five years to work in manufacturing.

“MassMEP has been a great partner in supporting workforce development and training for employees, including veterans, in the state's manufacturing industry,” Lieutenant Governor Murray said. “Today was a great visit, and our Administration looks forward to continuing to work with MassMEP as we advance and grow manufacturing jobs in Massachusetts.”

The Patrick-Murray Administration has stressed that one of their goals is to grow Massachusetts manufacturing, and keep Commonwealth manufacturers and employees competitive in the global marketplace. The Administration launched the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative this past November as a plan for manufacturing job growth in Massachusetts, and has provided just over $1 million in technical assistance in the past year.