"As Chair of Portland Development Commission (PDC), I know how important manufacturing is to our community and how vital it is that we meet the needs of manufacturing employers for a skilled workforce and research."
~Mark Rosenbaum, Chair
Portland Development Commission

Who We Are

 

Manufacturing 21 Coalition (MFG 21) is a private-public partnership. It is an active and authentic voice to advocate for Oregon and Southwest Washington’s manufacturing economy. Its members include business, labor, education and training providers, as well as local workforce development boards. The Coalition was created in 2004 to:

 

  • Ensure manufacturing remains a strong contributor to our region’s economy and to the health of our communities;
  • Educate community leaders about the role manufacturing plays in the region and provide a clear voice concerning the needs of the industry;
  • Foster the seamless delivery of workforce development services through public agencies and community-based private organizations; and
  • Expand the applied research and development capacity of our universities to meet the region’s manufacturing needs by advocating for investments in state-of-the-art technology.

Vision

The manufacturing sector is a thriving, sustainable portion of the Pacific Northwest’s economy.  We have helped inspire a training system already in place to provide a continuous pipeline of skilled employees for our businesses.  Our coalition is globally recognized for fostering innovation and technologies that provide competitive advantage and ensure a sustainable and growing regional manufacturing cluster.

Learn more: Industry Overview

Mission

Manufacturing 21 Coalition is a private-public partnership created to support and advocate for Oregon’s and Washington’s manufacturing economy.  Its members include business, labor, education and training providers, local workforce development boards, economic development organizations and government agencies.

  • MFG 21 Coalition provides leadership to assure manufacturing remains a strong contributor to our region’s economy and to the health of our communities.  It is a practical and expert voice for manufacturing and is organized, led and supported by the private sector.
  • MFG 21 Coalition educates and informs public and community leaders about the role manufacturing plays in the region.  The coalition works to identify and satisfy manufacturers’ needs for a skilled workforce, research and development.
  • MFG 21 Coalition fosters seamless delivery of workforce development services through knowledgeable engagement with public agencies, education institutions and community-based private organizations.
  • MFG 21 Coalition expands and builds upon the existing capacity of our colleges and universities to meet the needs of our regions manufacturing sector for applied research and development by securing investment and supporting technology collaborations.