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In the birthplace of American democracy, the NAM State of Manufacturing Tour stopped in Philadelphia’s Carpenters’ Hall on Friday, where industry leaders and public officials gathered to unveil a new declaration for the next chapter of manufacturing in America. They then carried that momentum to North Carolina to spotlight how pro-growth tax reform is fueling the Tar Heel state.

Another 250 years: In honor of the country’s 250th anniversary this year, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons unveiled the Manufacturers’ Accord for the Next 250 Years—a declaration of principles to strengthen free enterprise and secure America’s economic leadership.

• “More than two centuries ago, leaders met at Carpenters’ Hall to consider how a free people might govern themselves—and how a nation might flourish through enterprise, work and ingenuity,” said Timmons. “Today, manufacturers embrace a similar responsibility. We affirm that manufacturing, innovation and free markets have been central to America’s rise—and will determine its future.”
• “Manufacturers have always helped write America’s story—then, now and for the next 250 years. With the right pro-growth policy framework in place—competitive tax policies thanks to last year’s landmark tax bill, permitting reform, modernized regulations, energy dominance, trade certainty, investing in the manufacturing workforce and smart AI policy—we will strengthen our economy, expand opportunity and build an even stronger America for generations to come.”

The signers: Timmons was joined by Rockwell Automation Chairman and CEO and NAM Board Chair Blake Moret, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO David Taylor and NAM Executive Vice President Erin Streeter—who were the inaugural signers of the Manufacturers’ Accord.

• Attendees were then invited to add their names, launching a nationwide effort that will invite manufacturing leaders across the country to sign the Accord in the months ahead.

From declaration to production: The tour next stopped at Rhoads Industries, a family-owned heavy industries manufacturer founded in 1896 and located in Philadelphia’s historic Navy Yard.

• “In Philadelphia, we see a perfect blend of tradition and transformation,” said Moret. “Whether we are talking about the heritage of Carpenters’ Hall or the cutting-edge technology at Rhoads Industries in Building 57 of the iconic Navy Yard, the message is the same: speed matters. To chart a successful future, we must eliminate the permitting delays that hold back investment, train a future workforce and ensure that our tax code remains a catalyst for domestic growth.”

Tax certainty in Charlotte: After the history-rich stop in Philadelphia, the NAM landed in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday with a clear message: tax certainty is driving growth.

• “Here in North Carolina, we’re seeing exactly what tax certainty makes possible,” said Timmons. “Thanks to President Trump and leaders in Congress, the pro-growth provisions in H.R. 1 were made permanent and strengthened, delivering a win for manufacturers of all sizes.”
• To build on that foundation, he continued, policymakers must focus on “enacting comprehensive, commonsense permitting reform to unleash American energy dominance, driving the funding we need for strong, modern infrastructure, modernizing regulations, investing in our manufacturing workforce and implementing smart AI policy—all through a comprehensive manufacturing strategy.”

Facility visits: Ketchie President and Owner Courtney Silver hosted the first stop of the day with a tour and panel discussion about the benefits of tax certainty provided by H.R. 1. Thanks to its provisions, Ketchie has invested in new critical machinery, which is helping the company to hire, grow and compete for the long term.

• The tour then moved to Siemens Energy, which recently announced a $421 million expansion in North Carolina to grow its large power transformer manufacturing and continue gas turbine production in Charlotte—an investment expected to create 500 new jobs statewide.
• The day concluded at the North American headquarters of Electrolux, the global home appliance manufacturer, employing hundreds in the Charlotte region.

Who joined: Timmons was joined by North Carolina Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido and other NAM leaders throughout the day. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Derek Theurer and Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC) participated in the visit to Ketchie.

• “It was great to join the National Association of Manufacturers at Ketchie alongside Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Derek Theurer to see firsthand how tax certainty and pro-growth policies are giving companies the confidence to expand and compete with anyone in the world,” said Rep. Moore.

NAM in the news: The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription) and 6ABC Action News covered the Philadelphia stop, while the Charlotte Business Journal (subscription), the Charlotte Observer and Spectrum 1 Charlotte covered the Charlotte stop. Industry Week published its coverage of the NAM State of Manufacturing Address as well.
 
What’s next: After Philadelphia and Charlotte, the NAM will continue to Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Dallas and Houston, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. To learn more about the tour and the NAM’s mission, visit https://nam.org/stateofmfg/.