Program's aim: For young people to ‘Dream It, Do It'

LINCOLN - The “Dream It, Do It” campaign was officially launched in Nebraska by Gov. Dave Heineman and Behlen Mfg. Co. Chairman Tony Raimondo Friday.

Heineman and Raimondo joined state business leaders, educators and other groups with an interest in Nebraska's economic future to kick-off the multi-regional careers and economic development campaign sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers and its research and education arm, the Manufacturing Institute.

The goal of “Dream It, Do It” is to attract young people to manufacturing careers and expand their educational and training opportunities in the industry.

Nebraska is the first state to implement the campaign statewide.

Heineman said the initiative by Raimondo and others will have positive lasting effects on the state's economy.

“This will benefit communities of every size in our state,” he said. “Technology is the driving force in industry and we must have skilled workers to produce high tech products.”

Heineman said manufacturing is the key to economic growth in Nebraska, and this effort to encourage young adults to enter this field and to stay in Nebraska by providing them occupational opportunities will lead to success.

“This will help create the business leaders of the 21st century, “ he said, and “help Nebraska meet the needs for skilled workers in the state.”

“I am proud of everybody who is involved in this effort,” Heineman said. “When Tony Raimondo is involved, you know it is going to be successful.”

Raimondo, who is also the chairman of the Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition that will manage the campaign in Lincoln, Omaha and Columbus, said the first obstacle is to overcome the misperception that manufacturing is limited to working on an assembly line.

“We need to redefine the image of manufacturing,” he said. “We need young adults highly skilled in math and science to compete in global manufacturing.”

This endeavor will address the state's shortage of skilled manufacturing workers and help drive rural economic development, Raimondo said

“Our goal is to expand ‘Dream It, Do It' throughout Nebraska by expanding our new strong alliance of business, educational, workforce, economic development and political leaders,” he said.

“This campaign will help drive rural economic development in our state. Manufacturing contributes $7 billion to Nebraska's economy every year, but our industry is threatened by a shortage of skilled people to work in Nebraska's cutting edge manufacturing industries.”

“Nebraska is being pro-active and we can partner together like no other state can,” Raimondo said. “We will make manufacturing the career choice by 2010.”

For more information about the campaign, visit www.dreamit-doit.com. For more information about the National Association of Manufacturers, visit www.nam.org.