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Iowa should invest in manufacturing, technology jobs, consultants say

Investing $300 million to spark Iowa’s factory and technology industries would add nearly 37,000 jobs to the state’s economy over the next 10 years, according to two reports that development leaders released Tuesday.

The reports, from the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, also recommend creating a manufacturing czar who would report to the governor and lead the state initiative to expand factory jobs.

Leaders say manufacturing is critical to the state’s future, despite an industry pummeling that has resulted in 26,000 fewer factory jobs in Iowa – and about 2.7 million nationally – since 2000.

In 2003, manufacturing employed nearly 220,000 Iowans and contributed nearly one- quarter of the $20 billion gross state product. Manufacturing played a greater role in five other states’ economies.

By DONNELLE ELLER AND FRANK VINLUAN
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITERS

Full Story: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051116/BUSINESS04/511160335/1029/BUSINESS

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