Maine manufacturers plan October show-and-tell

Visitors at USS Albacore site in Portsmouth

Photo / Courtesy of Manufacturing Association of Maine Manufacturing Month will kick off on Oct. 1 with an event at Albacore Park in Portsmouth, N.H. The USS Albacore is a former Navy research submarine built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery.

Write a Comment

By Tina Fischer

Maine's multifaceted manufacturing sector and its contributions to the state's economy will take center stage during Manufacturing Month this October.

The Manufacturers Association of Maine and the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership are teaming up on the month-long campaign with events across the state.

Highlights include factory tours, educational events and community activities.

Workforce development is a goal, with 20 tours offering students, educators and local leaders an inside look at factories along with information about employment opportunities.

John Lewis

“When students and educators experience firsthand what modern manufacturing looks like, it can spark new interest in local careers and strengthen advocacy for the industry across the state,” said John Lewis, executive director of the Augusta-based Manufacturers Association of Maine.

Planned events

The campaign will kick off on Oct. 1 with Maritime Industry Day in Portsmouth, N.H., at a National Historic Landmark site that's home to former Navy research submarine USS Albacore.

The vessel was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, launched in 1953 and brought to what is now known as Albacore Park and opened to the public in 1986.

The event will focus on maritime and defense manufacturing careers and is expected to draw students and participants from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Proceeds from the event will support the Maine manufacturing association's scholarship foundation.

Manufacturing Month will conclude with the Oct. 29 annual gathering of the Manufacturers Association of Maine at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute in Portland.

The Manufacturers Association of Maine represents hundreds of companies across a range of sectors, while the nonprofit Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership provides consulting services to small and medium-sized businesses with hands-on training, innovation support and improvement strategies.