The following is the statement of Rolf Albers, Chairman & CEO of Albers Manufacturing Company Inc., before the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment and Government Programs
May 6, 2003
Thank you for inviting me to address this subcommittee and tell you about a subject that I feel is of critical importance to manufacturers in our state and nation.
I am Rolf Albers, Chairman & CEO of Albers Manufacturing Company, Inc. Our plant is located in O`Fallon, Missouri, which is just west of St. Louis. I also serve on the board of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. I am currently involved in the formation of a new organization, the Missouri Association For Advancing Manufacturing (MAAM) to be a united voice for those Missouri companies on the front line of manufacturing.
At Albers Manufacturing, we currently have 35 employees and manufacture a variety of electrical equipment for industry. I am here today to testify on behalf of my company to recommend that you continue funding the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). I have no personal experience with SBIR or FAST. However, over the last 10 years I have had numerous occasions to use the services of Missouri Enterprise Business Assistance Center, which manages the Manufacturing Extension Partnership here in Missouri.
Missouri has lost over 77,000 jobs over the last 18 months. In my opinion, there are many reasons for this, but in general it has to do with the way Missouri supports manufacturers and small business. In my opinion Missouri is not as business-friendly as it should be...
I know that federal budgets are tight. However, the techniques, technologies and training, available to small and medium size companies like Albers Manufacturing, via the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, are of critical importance. Companies like ours need this assistance to improve our efficiency and compete with foreign competition. Our ability to create and maintain sustainable manufacturing jobs in Missouri and the rest of the U.S. is at stake and organizations like the Missouri Extension Partnership are desperately needed.
Therefore, I urge the members of this important subcommittee to consider the situation facing thousands of companies like mine and to support the Manufacturing Extension Partnership with full funding as the FY 2004 budget process moves ahead.
Thank you again for inviting me to testify.
