
Key Takeaways from UMA's 2012 Inaugural Gathering: New York
More than 50 representatives of public agencies, industrial development corporations and nonprofit research and policy advocates, based in 13 cities, met on October 18-19, 2012 in New York City to launch the Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA). The gathering, convened by the Pratt Center and SFMade, with support from Citi Community Development and the Surdna Foundation, marked the first meeting of a unique platform for U.S. cities to exchange best practices and to collaborate in supporting the urban manufacturing sector. A broad national consensus has emerged that revitalizing the U.S. manufacturing sector is essential to the goals of creating well-paying jobs and rebuilding the middle class. The UMA’s formation comes at a moment when manufacturing job growth is leading the nation’s economic recovery, as large and small companies are “re-shoring” production, and as manufacturing start-ups are bringing new products to market at an unprecedented pace. While industrial policy is increasingly central to our national economic strategy, most federal, state, and local policymakers have limited experience addressing the challenges and opportunities offered by urban manufacturing. In addition to creating jobs in areas of high unemployment, local production can also help achieve important energy and environmental policy objectives by reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions from transportation.
The advantages cities offer – access to diversely talented workforces, as well as to customers, suppliers, designers, investors, and the myriad services that enable innovation and rapid response to markets – matter more than ever in a world of increasingly customized, just-in-time production. But “making it” in cities can also present challenges, from competition for scarce land, to aging and obsolete infrastructure. The UMA will enable manufacturers from New York to San Francisco, and from Atlanta to Allentown, to share best practices, learn from each other’s efforts and amplify their voice in the national policy discussion. During the coming year and beyond, Pratt Center and SFMade will lead UMA members in developing toolkits, presenting webinars, and sharing hands-on expertise on topics including local branding, land and space solutions, sustainable business practices, workforce development, and more. Through this collaboration, the participants seek to strengthen their local economies, create jobs and rebuild their cities.
More than 50 representatives of public agencies, industrial development corporations and nonprofit research and policy advocates, based in 13 cities, met on October 18-19, 2012 in New York City to launch the Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA). The gathering, convened by the Pratt Center and SFMade, with support from Citi Community Development and the Surdna Foundation, marked the first meeting of a unique platform for U.S. cities to exchange best practices and to collaborate in supporting the urban manufacturing sector. A broad national consensus has emerged that revitalizing the U.S. manufacturing sector is essential to the goals of creating well-paying jobs and rebuilding the middle class. The UMA’s formation comes at a moment when manufacturing job growth is leading the nation’s economic recovery, as large and small companies are “re-shoring” production, and as manufacturing start-ups are bringing new products to market at an unprecedented pace. While industrial policy is increasingly central to our national economic strategy, most federal, state, and local policymakers have limited experience addressing the challenges and opportunities offered by urban manufacturing. In addition to creating jobs in areas of high unemployment, local production can also help achieve important energy and environmental policy objectives by reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions from transportation.
The advantages cities offer – access to diversely talented workforces, as well as to customers, suppliers, designers, investors, and the myriad services that enable innovation and rapid response to markets – matter more than ever in a world of increasingly customized, just-in-time production. But “making it” in cities can also present challenges, from competition for scarce land, to aging and obsolete infrastructure. The UMA will enable manufacturers from New York to San Francisco, and from Atlanta to Allentown, to share best practices, learn from each other’s efforts and amplify their voice in the national policy discussion. During the coming year and beyond, Pratt Center and SFMade will lead UMA members in developing toolkits, presenting webinars, and sharing hands-on expertise on topics including local branding, land and space solutions, sustainable business practices, workforce development, and more. Through this collaboration, the participants seek to strengthen their local economies, create jobs and rebuild their cities.