As in the past, the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners will be issuing a proclamation declaring October 3 as Manufacturing Day. This year, we have the opportunity to be given the proclamation by the Board of Commissioners at one of their board meetings on September 23rd at 2 PM.

In conjunction with National Manufacturing Day, manufacturers across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties will be conducting tours with local middle and high schools to educate them on the types of careers available in manufacturing. The tours give the students the opportunity to see that not all manufacturing jobs are blue collar and that STEM education is vital to economic development in manufacturing in the United States. Approximately, 20 or more schools and plants will participate. Manufacturing provides jobs for approximately 30,317 citizens in 1,297 manufacturing facilities in Pinellas County; 24,651 jobs in 1,114 facilities in Hillsborough County; and 4,694 jobs in 423 facilities in Pasco and Hernando counties.

The Bay Area Manufacturers Association supports manufacturers and promotes economic development through manufacturing in the Tampa Bay Region. BAMA provides an environment that allows our members an opportunity to reach out into the community. BAMA provides a forum to exchange ideas or share “best practice” information; network with colleagues; learn about manufacturing related topics through our educational programs and tours; and supports Scholarship and STEM programs.