Chamber Highlights Manufacturing Industry in IRC

Oct. 13, 2016

Indian River County is joining communities nationwide to recognize Manufacturing Month. The initiative seeks to improve public perception of manufacturing careers and expand the understanding of its value to the U.S. economy.  Locally, the Indian River Chamber of Commerce is scheduling events throughout the month to highlight the positive impact manufacturing has on our economy.

How important is manufacturing to our local economy? To answer that question, our economic development office has coordinated a number of activities throughout the month of October to help change the perception in terms of careers in this industry, and highlight the role manufacturing serves in diversifying our economy. 

“We join communities across the U.S. in celebrating Manufacturing Day - or, in our case, Manufacutring Month - to highlight the importance of this industry sector,” explains Helene Caseltine, the Chamber’s Economic Development Director. She adds, “Manufacturers in Indian River County offer full-time year-round jobs with benefits that pay higher than average wages to our local residents - $46,384 compared to our county’s average wage of $37,882. They sell their products outside the area, many of them sell throughout the world, with that revenue circulating back into our local economy. Plus they are great corporate neighbors.”

“The Chamber is proud to participate in activities that highlight the importance of manufacturing in Indian River County” states Jeff Schlitt, Vice President of Schlitt Services and Chairman of the Indian River County Chamber. “Manufacturing firms and the 1,800+ jobs they provide are crucial to our economic well-being,” Schlitt continues. As reported by the office of Florida’s Labor Market Statistics, Indian River County is home to 139 manufacturers that produce a wide variety of products, from personal aircraft to personal submersibles.