CONOVER, N.C. – U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) today continued her North Carolina Back to Work Jobs Tour at the ground breaking for Conover’s new Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC). The new facility aims to grow more small business manufacturing companies by providing entrepreneurs with access to low cost testing, research and development and shared resources.

“Jobs are my number one priority, and I am on my North Carolina Back to Work Jobs Tour to take action on jobs right now,” said Hagan. “The new and expanded MSC will be a successful job creator because it focuses on two of North Carolina’s greatest strengths: our manufacturing expertise and the determination of our small business owners. By giving our entrepreneurs the space and the resources to test out their ideas, train, and develop their products, MSC will help open the doors to future businesses in this community, businesses that are going to produce jobs when we need them-right now.”

This was the fifth stop on Hagan’s North Carolina Back to Work Jobs Tour. She previously visited Service Thread Manufacturing in Laurinburg, Wake Technical Community College’s emerging Simulation and Game Development Program, Guilford Technical Community College’s Aviation Center, and a veterans hiring fair in Concord.

The North Carolina Back to Work Jobs Tour will include stops in communities across North Carolina. Hagan will meet with small business owners, workers, veterans, manufacturers, workforce development officers, community college administrators, and others to gain input and feedback about concrete steps that can put people back to work right now. The tour will explore many aspects of the unemployment crisis, including a strong emphasis on job training and job readiness.

Hagan has a bill, the AMERICA Works Act, which encourages national industries, from construction to aerospace, to come together and agree on the skill sets necessary for employees. When the industries have agreed upon standards, curricula will be developed for training programs at community colleges that will offer industry-recognized credentials. When workers have earned an industry-recognized credential, they will be qualified for employment in any state. For more about the AMERICA Works Act, please click here.

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press release 2/21/12