Northeast Ohio Campaign for American Manufacturing

Our Mission

NEOCAM is a diverse coalition of NE Ohio manufacturing companies that informs the public and elected officials of the importance and economic impact of manufacturing to our communities. We work together for policies that enhance the competitiveness of American-based manufacturing.

Perspectives on American Manufacturing

Dan DiMicco, Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Nucor Corporation was the featured speaker at the first installment of NEOCAM's speaker series, Perspectives on American Manufacturing. Mr. DiMicco's talk addressed the national and international issues that are challenging U.S. manufacturing—from unfair global rules and trade practices to tax and regulatory polices that impact the nation's manufacturers. Mr. DiMicco was instrumental in the formation of the bi-partisan Senate Manufacturing Caucus, co-chaired by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), that focuses on solving the issues facing American Manufacturing. As Nucor’s Website states, “We’re capable of competing with any steel company in the world. It’s competing with another government that’s the problem.” Event details can be found here. Richard Stuebi, BP Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement at the Cleveland Foundation discussed New Market Opportunities in Advanced Energy, designed to inform company leaders about emerging advanced energy technologies and markets. A host of advanced energy technologies are poised to emerge in the coming years, many of which will present enormous opportunities for Northeast Ohio manufacturers in wind, solar, fuel cells, biofuels, and clean coal sectors. Networking groups facilitated by experts in these emerging markets will follow the program.

Issues Facing Domestic Manufacturers

NEOCAM and The U.S. Business & Industry Council presented a forum at the City Club entitled "How U.S. Trade Policy is Failing Ohio's Manufacturers". Details available online.

ACTION ALERT:

Urge Your Member of Congress to Support Chinese Currency Legislation

Why NEOCAM?

· Jobs Lost: Nationally, over 3 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1998.

· In Ohio, over 218,000 jobs have disappeared since April of 1998.

· Sources of Job Loss:

o 40%: Productivity improvements

o 30%: Weak economy

o 30%: Trade deficit

· According to Policy Matters Ohio, 44,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in greater Cleveland, a 21% loss (November 1999-November 2003). We estimate that roughly 13,000 of those lost jobs are linked to the US trade deficit.

· Lost manufacturing jobs translate into the loss of family supporting wages, and downstream jobs linked to manufacturing in fields like retail, transportation, legal and accounting – to name just a few. A dollar of lost manufacturing production leads to another $1.50 in losses to the service-sector.

· The loss of manufacturing payroll dollars has led to state and local budget crunches and cutbacks in public services and education.

· The loss of manufacturing capacity undermines our national defense and innovation capability.

Federal policy makers have ignored or understated the importance of manufacturing to our way of life.

Our Plan

NEOCAM is mobilizing business owners, managers, and employees to talk directly to members of Congress, the Bush administration, and other public officials about the importance of a strong, American-based manufacturing infrastructure. NEOCAM is committed to engaging in an energetic debate about these issues, and pushing local policy makers to act on these, wherever there is consensus. Three issues are of current concern:

	Support a Sound Dollar, End Currency Manipulation: Four nations (Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China) have pegged their currency to the US dollar in order to keep exchange rates lower than if they were subject to market forces. The result is a skyrocketing US trade deficit, as well as cheaper, manipulated prices for Asian exports. In the case of China, this creates a de facto 30% tariff on US made goods, and should be strongly opposed by the Obama Administration and the Congress. If China acts, other nations will follow. NEOCAM is a member of the Sound Dollar Coalition).
	Time-Out on Free Trade Agreements: Basing further trade negotiations on the failed NAFTA model will only lead to further weakening of our manufacturing base, the loss of jobs, wealth and tax base on which Ohio communities depend, and the hollowing-out of US defense capability. Ohio had a NAFTA-related net loss of over 46,000 jobs from 1993-2002, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Congress must call a “time out” in order to develop a new “Smart Trade Policy” that will create jobs, not destroy them.
	Restore funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The MEP is widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective public programs, and is one of the few that directly addresses issues confronting US based manufacturing firms. NEOCAM supports maintaining funding at a minimum of $106 million. - Accomplished
	Ohio Tax Reform to recognize the critical role of manufacturing to Ohio’s economy. Repeal the tax on tangible personal property (machinery, equipment and inventory) that erodes reinvestment on 21st century manufacturing capability. - Accomplished

What can you do? How can you help?

Participate in NEOCAM events.
Publish articles in your employee newsletter.
Send letters to key constituencies

·         To employees and suppliers.

·         Facilitate business-to-business communication on these issues.

·         To members of Congress, governors and state legislator.

·         To local newspapers via op-eds or letters to the editor.

Give a speech on manufacturing to your employees, a local business group or other community organizations.
Post NEOCAM's message in your e-mails and Web site.
Send an individual, company, or association contribution. Make checks payable to WIRE-Net/NEOCAM. Please contact Jacki Adams for more details.

Associations Involved YTD:

	American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers (AESF)
	American Mold Builders Association (AMBA)
	Metal Service Center Institute (MSCI), Eastern Chapter
	National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA), Cleveland Chapter
	National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA), Akron Chapter
	Ohio Association of Metal Finishers (OAMF)
	Summit County Machine Shop Group (SCMG)
	Westside Industrial Retention & Expansion Network (WIRE-Net)

Individual members of the, Precision Metalforming and Precision Machined Products Associations have also been involved.

Companies and Taxpayers Represented:

NEOCAM represents over 900 companies employing more than 90,000 employees, and 60,000 Ohio Steelworkers and their families.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Jacki Adams, of WIRE-Net or John Colm, President & Executive Director of WIRE-Net

Telephone: (216) 588-1440
FAX: (216) 588-1439
Postal address: 4855 W. 130th Street, Suite 1, Cleveland, Ohio 44135