Alan Freeland, general manager of Schulze & Burch Biscuit Company, Jessica Pratt, human resource manager of Schulze & Burch Biscuit Company, Robert Skinner, human resource manager at Bryce Corp., Felipe Barahona, general manager of Wal-mart Distribution Center and Buck Layne, president of Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce watch Searcy Mayor David Morris sign the Manufacturing Week proclamation.

Wednesday, Searcy Mayor David Morris declared October 2 – 8 Manufacturing Week.

      Advantage Business Media says Manufacturing Week is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. The mission of Manufacturing Week is to addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity, in a coordinated effort, to share what manufacturing is and what it isn’t. By working together during and after Manufacturing Week, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry. 

      Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce President Buck Layne said White County and the City of Searcy relies on manufacturing and distribution companies.

      “Searcy is fortunate to have such a strong industrial base,” Layne said. “Approximately 3,000 people in White County are employed in manufacturing or distribution.”

      According to Layne, manufacturing often pays a higher average wage and has better employee benefits. In addition, the International Economic Development Council reports no sector has a greater multiplier effect than the manufacturing sector. 

      The National Association of Manufacturing says for every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.40 is added to the economy. A membership group of executive manufactures called Manufactures Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) says every manufacturing job created in the United States leads to 3.4 jobs in non-manufacturing industries to take the product from start to finish.

     “We want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank our manufacturing and distribution businesses for the jobs they provide and the positive economic impact on our community,” Layne said.

    To celebrate Manufacturing Week, the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted an Eggs & Issues breakfast on Oct. 6, 7:30 a.m. at Harding University’s Cone Chapel. Guest speakers included Felipe Barahona, general manager of Wal-mart Distribution Center and Alan Freeland, general manager of Schulze & Burch Biscuit Company.