DATE: October 14, 2024
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Stephanie Trottier
(763) 271-3202 | Stephanie.Trottier@ci.monticello.mn.us
Monticello Celebrates Manufacturers Month with Local Companies
Monticello, MN –The City of Monticello Industrial Economic Development Committee (IEDC) hosted a Manufacturers Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 a.m. in the Monticello Community Center. The event recognizes local manufacturers’ impact and contributions to the community. Sherburne State Bank, Xcel Energy, WSB, Dahlheimer Beverage, and RiverWood Bank sponsored the event.
This year’s breakfast focused on the connection between Monticello manufacturers and tomorrow’s workforce. The event featured speakers Lori Hanson, Principal of Monticello High School, and Sarah Sundine, Chief Operations Officer of Ultra Machining Company (UMC). Monticello High School students interested in manufacturing careers attended the event along with leaders and employees of local manufacturing firms. During Lori Hanson’s presentation, attendees were given an opportunity to connect with the high school students to learn more about their interests in manufacturing and related fields.
UMC’s Sarah Sundine shared the history, growth, services, and mission of Ultra Machining Company. UMC recently completed a 58,000 square foot expansion in Monticello in spring 2022. UMC specializes in medical devices and aerospace and defense products. UMC’s focus on educational outreach initiatives in the Monticello community has yielded strong partnerships with Monticello schools. They partner with the Middle School’s STEM program, sponsor local high school robotics teams, provide a Youth Skills Trade Program for students 16 years and older, and offer internships. UMC also participates in the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline Grant Program that assists with the cost of education for apprentices while working for UMC.
Minnesota has more than 8,600 manufacturers that employ more than 326,000 Minnesotans. Employment in the manufacturing sector is 30 percent more concentrated in Minnesota than the national average. Minnesota firms expect to create an additional 93,000 new manufacturing jobs in the State over the next 8 years. The industry contributes over $58.7 billion per year to the State’s economy.
Local manufacturers have a significant impact on our local economy. They contribute an estimated 54% percent of the local property taxes supporting the City of Monticello’s municipal budget. Manufacturers make up 10 percent of all businesses in Monticello. As of 2020, those manufacturers employ over 2,400 people, which is about 23 percent of the City’s workforce.
The Manufacturers Appreciation Breakfast highlights the essential role that local manufacturers play in Monticello’s economy and fosters connections between future talent and existing industry leaders. As Monticello continues to thrive as a hub for manufacturing excellence, events like these reinforce the community’s commitment to supporting the next generation of skilled workers, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable economic future. The collaboration among local businesses, educational institutions, and community leaders is vital for promoting career opportunities in manufacturing, paving the way for continued growth and innovation in Monticello.
