Focus On Growing Manufacturing
Randy Wolken, President & CEO

Elections offer an opportunity for manufacturers and their supporters to be heard. Specifically, federal and state elections provide a unique opportunity to communicate the need to grow manufacturing and those businesses that support them. MACNY and its political action committees, are active in communicating the need to build our manufacturing-supported economy in the year ahead. It is vitally important for our members to engage in the electoral process and share their voice on important issues.

Manufacturing has long been the backbone of the New York State economy. New York State remains one of our country’s 10 largest manufacturing states. We are poised to see massive growth in manufacturing throughout Central and Upstate New York in the years ahead. With recent announcements of massive manufacturing investments in our region and throughout New York State, it is the right time to create the best manufacturing business climate in the country. This will enable high-tech manufacturing sectors to grow jobs here in our communities. Our elected leaders’ policy proposals must advance specific actions that will do just that. We must evaluate all new legislation based on its ability to make New York State more competitive for manufacturing job growth and business investment.

Specifically, we need additional tax relief for small and medium manufacturers that cannot take advantage of the corporate tax cut that is in effect for corporate manufacturers. In addition, we must continue to invest in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce – including expanding the highly successful Manufacturers Intermediary Apprenticeship Program, launched and sustained by MACNY throughout the State. Finally, having sufficient and reliable energy for our growth will also be essential. These issues, along with improving our workers’ compensation system and reducing wasteful regulations, are just a few ways they can encourage manufacturers and businesses to invest in their companies and grow jobs. We look forward to working with elected officials to put forward a manufacturing-friendly agenda and pro-business legislation in the year ahead.

In Washington, D.C., we see the opportunity to create a more favorable climate to grow manufacturing operations and investments in the United States. MACNY believes that a heightened focus on increasing manufacturing and high-tech jobs here in our country can pay substantial dividends. Better and enforced trade policy can bring new jobs and added investment to existing manufacturers and technology companies. Reasonable regulations and the reduction of harmful ones can spur growth in all sectors of our economy. The United States has become the best-developed country in the world to make products – it’s time our political leaders assist this growth through intelligent policies in continued tax reform, ongoing regulatory reform, effective energy policy, and a focus on fair trade.

We look forward to working with our federal and state representatives to grow the opportunity for the manufacturing sector to prosper. To get engaged, connect with Tiffany Latino-Gerlock, our Director of Government Relations, at [email protected].

At MACNY, we are committed to working with you, our members, to capitalize on our momentum for growth. We cannot just settle for what we once had. Innovation, growth, and further investment will not just happen. We need to work hard at it. And we will do so together.

I look forward to an even better 2025!