Centering Federal Industrial Policy in Racial Justice and Community Development

A healthy manufacturing sector strengthens communities with good jobs and opportunities to build wealth while strengthening our national resilience. A robust urban manufacturing ecosystem stimulates economic growth that is more equitable, reduces the impact of climate change, and increases national security.

The Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA) developed this policy agenda as a northstar for federal-level policy makers and leadership in the new Biden/Harris administration. This agenda lifts up the work of our partners in cities across the country who are supporting manufacturing in their communities and recommends how the federal government could better support these local efforts and replicate their success.

The policies suggested in this document are supported by programmatic and organizational examples—stories of innovative, community-based manufacturers who are providing jobs and building wealth in their cities—and include action steps for implementation by federal agencies, Congress, and the executive branch.

The recommendations are organized into five topic areas:

1. Prioritize Inclusive Manufacturing Policy throughout the Federal Government
2. Build Up Manufacturing Ecosystems
3. Help Communities Capitalize On High-Quality Manufacturing Jobs
4. Modernize Industrial Real Estate And Create Community Assets
5. Ensure Access To Capital That Is Inclusive And Directed Towards Manufacturing Businesses