Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew for the 41st consecutive month in October, though at a slower pace compared to recent months, according to the latest Manufacturing Report on Business by the Institute for Supply Management.ISM’s purchasing manager’s index hit 51.2, down from 52.9 reported in September. It’s the lowest reading since June 2003.
A PMI above 50 indicates that the sector is growing, and a PMI below 50 percent indicates that it’s contracting.

Full Article: http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/business/article/0,2541,TCP_998_5124100,00.html

Florida's manufacturing sector is highly diverse.  These manufacturers make construction materials, medical devices, food products, boats and ships, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and much more.  There are 16,522 manufacturers in Florida, primarily small businesses, that employ some 399,157 people.  The average annual wage of Florida manufacturing employees is $43,413.

Florida manufacturers are well prepared to keep producing their products in the face of adversity, having had signifcant experience in the recent past with natural disasters.  They have implemented plans and taken extraordinary steps to insure that they are up and running within 48 hours following a disaster, no longer than a normal weekend.  Florida manufacturers take their reliability serious!

BRANDON - A $500,000 state grant will fund a program at Hillsborough Community College meant to provide training for those wishing to enter the manufacturing work force.

HCC in Brandon is developing the curricula for the program with help from manufacturing companies throughout the Tampa Bay region. Workforce Florida is providing the funding.

Al Stimac: One Man Can Make A Difference
National association of Manufacturers

Croatia and working his way up to owning his own successful manufacturing company, exporting all over At the NAM Board Meeting last week in DC, we ran into one of our favorite Board Members, Al Stimac of Metal Essence in Orlando, Florida. We've written about Al here before, and even ran a poster of him. He's a great American success story, immigrating here from the world.But Al's not content to stop there. He has been a real leader in his home state of Florida, has been a d riving force behind establishing the Manufacturers Association of Florida and now serves as its President. They have an activist legislative agenda and as you can see from this slide, in 2006, they had a pretty good run. Not bad for the early days of their efforts. Al's had a great relationship with Gov. Jeb Bush and has worked to keep manufacturing front and center on the state's agenda.

About Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC

Fletcher Pride and his son, Gene Pride, for the purpose of manufacturing wooden mouthpieces for Hav-a-Tampa Jewel Cigars, founded Pride Manufacturing Company in 1930 in Tampa, Florida. The Company was known as Pride Sales Agency at that time. It was under Gene Pride's leadership that the company operated in Tampa until 1956. At that time, the decision was made to move part of the operation closer to the source of raw material, which is white birch. In August of 1956 an empty factory was purchased in Guilford, Maine, and remodeled to manufacture wooden cigar tips. During this time Stanley Pride, Gene's son, assumed the leading role in the company. It was Stan and his brother-in-law, Ariel Ellis, who provided the direction needed for the next four decades of progress.

County works with prospects
Newszap.com

GLADES COUNTY — Even as construction continues on the new Glades County Jail and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility, the Glades County Economic Development Council (EDC) is working with County Manager Wendell Taylor to identify companies to site in the county’s 40-acre industrial park.Mr. Taylor recently told members of the City County Sewer Authority at their Aug. 28 regular meeting that the county and the EDC are currently working with two manufacturing prospects for the park.According to EDC Executive Director Tracy Whirls, conceptual designs for the park are expected to be finalized within a couple of weeks and costs associated with needed infrastructure, including roads, sewer, electric and water lines, should be available shortly..

Full Article  http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/10/04/fl/lake_okeechobee/gla01.txt

Wesom Moves Into New Headquarters, Anticipates Continued Growth
Press Release
PR Web.com

Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) October 5, 2006 -- Wescom, the leading provider of integrated communications, data and tracking systems for the health care industry, has moved into new corporate headquarters at 5343 Bowden Road, Jacksonville, Florida. The 35,000-square-foot facility was completely renovated to accommodate the company’s various engineering, service, research and development, sales, manufacturing and administration needs. The building allows for future growth and expansion. Wescom currently employs more than 53 people and expects to add staff over the next six to 12 months.Wescom’s products provide health care facilities with centralized communication and tracking capabilities that improve patient care and satisfaction while reducing cost and inefficiency for health care providers. The Nurse Call systems that Wescom Products provide include MedLink, ProNet and MedTrac all of which help to solidify stronger nurse to patient relationships.

Full Article  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/10/prweb446194.htm