SALISBURY – Manufacturing Day 2016 will take place Friday and feature leading Rowan County manufacturers, the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute and prominent guest speakers.

The annual event recognizes the manufacturing industry on the first Friday in October.

To underscore the importance of this economic sector, Rowan County is expecting visits from N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz and the chief economist for the U.S. Department of Commerce Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick.

Rowan and North Carolina manufacturers are invited to a lunch with Hughes-Cromwick for a special presentation and roundtable discussion. The special guest will be Kluttz.

If you are a manufacturer and would like to attend, contact RowanWORKS at 704-637-5526.

Manufacturing Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. This event was created to expand knowledge and change perceptions of the manufacturing industry through community-wide events.

For Rowan County, Manufacturing Day is part of an ongoing, comprehensive effort to spotlight the manufacturing industry and its promising future for the community.

The day’s events serve to educate those unfamiliar with modern day manufacturing, increase public awareness on the economic value of the industry and encourage the next generation of manufacturers.

Power Curbers will offer facility tours to the public beginning at 10 a.m. To register, go to http://www.mfgday.com/events/2016/power-curbers-inc-4.

Manufacturing employment is growing steadily and North Carolina is one of the strongest manufacturing states in the country. Rowan County is a prime location for the growth of advanced, well-paying manufacturing jobs, and county leaders are pushing to promote the benefits of the industry to students.

In partnership with local manufacturers, Rowan and Davie County schools have organized tours and will be participating in Manufacturing Day events on Friday. Leading manufacturers are taking this opportunity to showcase their company through plant tours, demonstrating the state-of-the-art equipment and processes involved in modern production.

Students from West Rowan, North Rowan, Davie and Salisbury high schools will get an inside look at the diverse career opportunities offered by the technology-driven manufacturing plants, including Agility Fuel Systems, Continental Structural Plastics and Daimler Trucks North America.

“In addition to thanking the participating manufacturers, we would like to especially acknowledge Daimler Trucks North America, both at our local Cleveland plant and their corporate offices, for their leadership, direction and support of this year’s Manufacturing Day,” organizers said n a news release.

The Davie County School System, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and the Rowan-Salisbury School System are all partners in these efforts, organizers said.

To learn more about Manufacturing Day, or to find an event near you, visit http://www.mfgday.com/ or email info@mfgday.com.