Jason Hilts

1. Jason Hilts
President & CEO
Brownsville Economic Development Council
956.541.1183
jhilts@bedc.com

2.  Broadly defined as the
integration and
utilization of new
technologies to improve
products and processes
 This sector is estimated
to account for nearly 44%
of all U.S. manufacturing
employment and
supports 19% of U.S. GDP
through its operations,
supply chain, and payroll
(Oxford Economics)

3.  In the U.S. one of the
greatest predictors of
strong economic growth
is where there is a strong
concentration of advance
manufacturing
 The more advanced
manufacturing in a
region, the more likely
that the region will be at
the high end of these
economic forecasts.

4.  Oxford Economics has calculated that
productivity in the U.S. Advance
Manufacturing Sector is an estimated
$226,071 per worker, more than twice the
productivity of a worker in non-advance
manufacturing ($106,143)
 Most importantly, higher worker productivity
is typically associated with higher wages and
education attainment (or higher skills
training).

5.  Price Waterhouse Cooper
has found that a
surprisingly high
percentage of
manufacturers are
aggressively embracing
measures to grow a
workforce that can keep
pace with new technologies
(data analysis, 3D printing,
robotics, and virtual reality,
etc.).
 Factories are getting
smarter…...

6.  Brownsville needs to be strategic….
 Advance Manufacturing is here, it needs to be
supported and it needs to be fully developed
 This requires our collaborative effort and requires the
coordination of multiple stakeholders from both the
private and public sectors, this is what United
Brownsville is about
 Most importantly, this collaboration needs to be
centered around the development of talent for the
long haul.

7.  Developing talent will set Brownsville apart, it is what
will further the development of Advance
Manufacturing in Brownsville and is the essence
behind the Imagine Brownsville Plan.
 Combined with other sectors, Advance Manufacturing
helps moves Brownsville towards the vision of a more
prosperous, efficient, sustainable, functioning, livable
and vibrant community.
 By being successful it brings the manufacturing and
industrial community together in partnership with our
school district, with TSC, with UT-RGV to develop a
steady pipeline of talent entering the labor force.

8.  It elevates the educational level within our local
companies, more investment is made in technology
knowing that there is support from the community in
terms of skilled and trained labor, higher productivity
is obtain by the companies which studies show drives
higher wages, that in turn provides direct benefits
back to the community in form of more income to the
citizens of Brownsville.
 Brownsville will be known as a proactive community,
it sets us apart from the learn-as-you-go, reactive
approach communities which in turn will make our
City more attractive to leading edge companies.

9.  THANK YOU…..