American manufacturing played a starring role in President Barrack Obama’s State of the Union speech last night. And it was his mention of Toledo that showed he understands that northwest Ohio and the rest of the Rust Belt have galvanized a resurgent message about advanced manufacturing and its relevance to U.S. industry and American higher education, according to the president of The University of Toledo.

Providing examples of the need for increased manufacturing, Obama pointed to new trade deans: “Soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea,” he said. “Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago.”

“It is clear to me that President Obama understands the essential role new manufacturing and the Midwest work ethic will play in the coming years and decades to strengthen and modernize this nation,” said UT President Lloyd Jacobs, who also serves as a member of the steering committee of the Council on Competitiveness.

“Manufacturing today is every bit as high-tech as you would find in Silicon Valley and it is this combination of advanced materials design and development, supply chain expertise, decades of manufacturing experience and entrepreneurial support that will make Toledo and the corridor from Buffalo to Detroit a global headquarters for a 21st century movement,” Jacobs said.

The Council on Competitiveness – composed of the CEOs of major American corporations; presidents of the nation’s top universities including UT, colleges and community colleges; and leaders of labor unions whose membership extends nationwide – recently came together to compile manufacturing recommendations in areport titled “MAKE: An American Manufacturing Movement.”

“Universities – especially this University – are at the very center of the innovation and advancements needed to transform this region and to transform an industry to meet the needs of a global economy,” Jacobs said. “UT students in business, engineering and logistics will be the next generation of leaders for the new manufacturing industry, and I’m very excited that the president understands this city’s place in that movement.”

Media Coverage
13 ABC (Jan. 26, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 28, 2012)