WMC: Wisconsin Manufacturing Month: Coolest thing made in Wisconsin

CONTACT: Nick Novak, 608.258.3400

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce released its fourth and final video this week in a series that promotes Manufacturing Month and the rewarding careers available in the industry. The theme for week four of Manufacturing Month is the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.

In the second year of WMC’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest, nominees received nearly 200,000 total votes over four rounds. Ultimately, the winner – Oshkosh Corporation’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle – was announced Oct. 16 at the WMC Foundation State of Wisconsin Business & Industry Luncheon.

“We came up with the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin as a way to promote Manufacturing Month,” says WMC President/CEO Kurt R. Bauer in the video. “It is a way to get people excited about the things that are made their state.”

The video highlights some of the nominees – including the four finalists – for the Coolest Thing, and makes the point that manufacturing is no longer “dumb, dirty and dangerous,” but instead, “high-tech, high-pay and high-skill.”

Wisconsin’s manufacturers employ 461,000 people and are responsible for $56 billion worth of economic output. Additionally, the average pay for a manufacturing worker in Wisconsin is about $55,000 – which is $10,000 more than the state’s average. These figures are why WMC celebrates Manufacturing Month each October.

Watch the video here.

WMC released a new video each week of Wisconsin Manufacturing Month. The first video focused on the importance of vocational education and the state’s technical colleges. The second video showcased the high-tech, advanced manufacturing already happening in Wisconsin. And, the third video detailed the importance of getting more women involved in manufacturing.

To find out more about Manufacturing Month, including events near you, please visit www.WIManufacturingMonth.org.