Governor touts manufacturing during Friday stop in Kimball

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts touted manufacturing in a brief Kimball stop last Friday afternoon.

The governor visited and spoke at George Risk Industries, a manufacturer in Kimball for 50 years. It was his third of three stops on the day, which also included Nucor Steel in Norfolk and Sargent Pipe Company in Broken Bow. Ricketts was accompanied on the trip by Joseph Young, the executive vice president the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also heads Vision Nebraska, and the organization's goal is to grow the state's economy and workforce and improve overall competitiveness.

October is Nebraska's Manufacturer month as well as the National Manufacturer month.

"Manufacturing is a very crucial part of our membership," Young said. "On average, Nebraskans that work in the manufacturing plants make about $13,000 more than Nebraskans that aren't working in manufacturing. That is a big deal, and what you guys do for the economy means the world to us."

Ricketts spoke on the importance of manufacturing and industry, and stated that 82 percent of the non-agriculture exports from Nebraska are in manufacturing.

"Manufacturing is hugely important in the state of Nebraska. Manufacturing is our second biggest industry, it accounts for about 13 percent of our overall state economy, and provides for almost 100,000 jobs across the state," Ricketts said. "We've got nearly 2,000 manufacturing facilities across the state of Nebraska. When we talk about creating more opportunities for our young people and growing the state, we have got to talk about manufacturing."

Ricketts added that promoting manufacturing as a career choice for young adults and creating manufacturing jobs across the state, not just in metropolitan areas, makes for a stronger state.

He explained that grants are given to private sector businesses and school systems to do just that, collaborate on curriculum.

"We did it recently in Kearney and Hastings in the fields of IT (information and technology) and manufacturing. I look to continuing to promote that program," Ricketts said. "The good news there is lots of other school districts that are doing every kind of approach to do that."

Internships, job fairs and tours are just a few ways this can be done, as well as dual credit programs which allow students to enter the job force directly out of high school.

"One of the things I have done to help do that is create a grant program called Nebraska Developing New Talent Initiative," Ricketts said. "What I want to do is promote getting private sector companies involved with our school systems to help create that curriculum."