Senator Steve Daines today announced $853,333 in funding for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) for the next year and a half, which strengthens Montana small manufacturers through partnerships and guidance.
“Manufacturing plays an integral role in supporting hardworking families across our state,” Daines stated. “Manufacturing jobs pay an average of 17 percent higher wages than non-manufacturing jobs and I’m proud to support funding to create more of these high-paying jobs.”
In Montana, manufacturing plays a critical role in creating good-paying jobs:
In 1996, there were 1,489 manufacturers in the state of Montana employing 22,500 people.
- In 2016, there are 2,841 manufacturers in the state of Montana employing 23,931 people.
- 81% of Montana’s manufacturers have less than 10 employees
- 55% of Montana’s manufacturers have been in business for less than 20 years.
MMEC delivers an 8:1 return on investment for the citizens of the state of Montana.