AEM officially kicked off its I Make America 2017 Tour this week. This marks the sixth year that AEM travels around the country to visit with member companies and their employees, discuss issues that affect the industry and highlight how equipment manufacturers are essential to the continued growth of the U.S. economy.
This year’s theme – Our Products. Our Jobs. – highlights the equipment that is made in the United States and the jobs that depend on them. It also captures the pride the men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry feel toward their work and the contributions they make to our country.
With a new Congress and administration, the focus of this ear’s tour is to bring members of Congress, governors and White House officials out to equipment manufacturing facilities across the country so that they can learn more about our industry and the 1.3 million men and women who make America.
“Advocacy is one of the cornerstones of what we do as an association, and the I Make America program has allowed us to activate our members around policy issues that are critically important to the long-term health and prosperity of our industry,” said AEM President Dennis Slater.
The I Make America team will travel farther in 2017 than in years past, with events planned at facilities in Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon and Texas, among others.The $159 billion equipment manufacturing industry includes small family-owned businesses and large publicly traded companies and generates over $416 billion in sales activity every year.
“This year is all about highlighting the products that our industry makes and the jobs that depend on them, and that is why, as we travel around the country to visit with our member companies and their employees, we will raise banners celebrating U.S. equipment manufacturing,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM vice president, public affairs & advocacy.
Check out the video for a preview of the I Make America 2017 Tour.
