Gov. Tom Corbett was in Breinigsville Tuesday to unveil findings and the recommendations of his Manufacturing Advisory Council during a visit to the site.
"Manufacturing adds more than $70 billion in value each year to our state's economy and employs more than 570,000 Pennsylvanians," said Corbett in a press release. "Creating a business climate where manufacturers like Westport Axle can prosper will result in a growing economy and more jobs for our citizens. The company we are visiting today will be adding more than 500 new jobs."
Late last year, Corbett commissioned the 24-member council to find ways to sustain statewide growth. It unveiled its reports at four separate news conferences Tuesday.
"My goal is straightforward; a healthy economy and a job for every Pennsylvanian that wants one," Corbett said in the release. "This report provides a solid roadmap for us to work together to achieve that goal in the manufacturing sector."
The panel is looking for ways to advance manufacturing in the state by recommending tax cuts, partnerships with schools, and the development of new market opportunities involving natural gas, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Corbett announced the findings during a visit to Westport Axle, a manufacturer of sub-assemblies for the automotive industry. Westport Axle opened its 516,800-square-foot Lehigh Valley plant earlier this year, becoming the company's first facility in Pennsylvania. Westport Axle will invest more than $5 million and will create 518 new jobs within three years.
