Celebrating Manufacturing Month All Year in 2022!

Manufacturing Day has been celebrated across the country every October since 2011 in order to change career perceptions in manufacturing. And it became official in 2014 when President Obama issued a presidential proclamation declaring the first Friday in October as National Manufacturing Day. 

 “On National Manufacturing Day, more than 1,600 American manufacturers will open their doors and take up the important work of inspiring our young people to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. Today's science, technology, engineering, and math graduates will power the next chapter of American production and innovation, and harnessing their potential is an economic imperative. When our manufacturing base is strong, our entire economy is strong. Today, we continue our work to bolster the industry at the heart of our Nation. With grit and resolve, we can create new jobs and widen the circle of opportunity for more Americans". - Presidential Proclamation, 2014

FLATE has worked for the past decade with Florida's Regional Manufacturing Associations (RMAs), FloridaMakes and many other organizations and industry partners to celebrate Manufacturing Month in Florida each October; and the number of in-person student tours of manufacturing facilities grew each year until the pandemic, exposing many students, parents, educators and counselors to modern manufacturing careers.  Since the pandemic, Manufacturing Month student events have evolved with many partnering organizations coming up with new, innovative ways to reach students.

Introducing the FLATE Award: Most Innovative Manufacturing Month Student Event Award for 2021

FLATE would like to recognize those organizations, companies and/or schools who created innovative student outreach events in 2021 to promote manufacturing career awareness and technology education. To do so, we are launching a new FLATE Award in 2022: the Most Innovative Manufacturing Month Student Event Award. FLATE's new award recognizes outstanding and innovative ways to promote manufacturing career awareness and technology education through innovative student outreach events during Manufacturing Month. Awardees will have demonstrated impact on student perception and knowledge about manufacturing careers at the local, state, and/or national level. Eligible events include those held in 2021 with both students and manufacturers participating. To learn more about this award criteria click here.

Celebrating Manufacturing Month All Year in 2022

Although many successful student events were held in October 2021, many scheduled events were postponed due to the pandemic. These events will be rescheduled as soon as feasible so we will not be waiting until October to celebrate Manufacturing Month in 2022! Student events throughout the year will highlight the current, unique opportunities for careers in manufacturing. But in addition to a year-long celebration, stay tuned for information on a statewide celebration to be held on Manufacturing Day in October!