Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week 2015
Georgia’s Manufacturing Appreciation Week kicks off today (April 13-17). Communities across the State of Georgia are celebrating the numerous contributions from their local manufacturing companies.
Every year for Manufacturing Appreciation Week, local Economic Development Organizations and Technical Colleges nominate local manufacturers for the coveted Manufacturer of the Year award.
Brunswick and Glynn County’s Amazing Industrial Community
Brunswick and Glynn County is home to a very divers mix of manufacturers. Glynn County has several first class aerospace companies, large scale metal processing and construction, process manufacturing, and food production. Included in the local industrial community are the businesses that make up the Port of Brunswick.
The local industrial community is involved in just about every major community event that takes place in the Golden Isles, including The Bridge Run, St Simons Rotary Chili Cook-Off, and Relay for Life, just to name a few. In addition to community involvement, the industrial community actively encourages and participates in the local education system and in workforce development. Once per semester, several existing industries host students from the Golden Isles Career Academy so they can see first hand what modern manufacturing is really like.
Brunswick and Glynn County’s Industrial Heritage
Manufacturing is at the heart of Brunswick and Glynn County’s culture and heritage. In the days of World War II, the City of Brunswick was transformed into a thriving hub of industrial activity for the ship building industry. The Liberty Ships that were used to transport goods to the Allies during World War II were constructed near downtown Brunswick. That heritage and spirit of hard work exist in the Golden Isles today.
In Glynn County, the manufacturing sector is the fourth largest employer and the average pay is higher than most other industries.
Manufacturing is not just a major part of Brunswick and Glynn County, but it’s also a major part of Georgia’s economy. In the State of Georgia, manufacturing employs around 350,000 people and there’s about 9,500 manufacturers throughout the State.
Although the U.S. is experiencing a resurgence in manufacturing, manufacturers are not without their challenges. The “Baby Boomer” generation is in the process of retiring and the technical skills needed to run a manufacturing operation are becoming increasingly specialized. This is why the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority works so hard to encourage the success of organizations who develop the local workforce, such as the Golden Isles Career Academy, the College of Coastal Georgia, and Coastal Pines Technical College.
Last year’s Manufacturing Appreciation Week was a huge success for Glynn County. The Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority, Coastal Pines Technical College, and the Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce co-nominated Gulfstream along with Savannah’s economic development organizations. Gulfstream is at the forefront of aerospace technology and it’s not surprise Gulfstream won the nomination.
