Nicole Crain, ABI, Coolest Thing Made In Iowa Matchups
Manufacturing is a complex industry with so many moving parts. It can be difficult to create the appropriate margin within the workday to look up and out. The issues are equally complex, touching multiple industries and with diverse needs across different manufacturing sectors, involving everything from “right to work,” workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation laws to R&D tax credits, DNR regulations and the post-Covid supply chain.
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Nicole Crain, Executive Vice President with Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), has been working hard to preserve Iowa’s robust and competitive manufacturing economy for over 15 years. She joins host Leisa Fox for this episode to spend time talking about this year’s legislative session, Iowa’s competitive alternative fuel position, and fostering a dynamic network of connected manufacturing leaders, as well as nominations opening in search of the new “Coolest Thing Made in Iowa.”
Iowa: A Manufacturing Destination
Iowa’s workforce initiatives and potential for onshoring critical product development and production in the state make it a destination for manufacturing across the nation. ABI has been at the center advocating and protecting while at the same time fostering a dynamic network of connected manufacturing leaders since its inception in 1903.
Nicole points to ABI programming and how it is set up to make it easy for businesses to engage with the work, supporting manufacturing industry and Iowa businesses, and the Iowa business climate.
Voice of Iowa Businesses
ABI functions to create a competitive economic base for business and industry in the state of Iowa so all of our businesses can grow and prosper and thrive. Change, Nicole said, is affected through advocacy and the voice of its members.
At times, CEOs and leaders know the issues to watch yet in business may be hesitant to get directly involved by reaching out and talking to elected officials, or reveal a position publicly. Nicole underscores a non-partisan approach focusing on the importance of industry leaders letting state legislators know where you stand on the issues.
Creative a Competitive Business Climate
Leisa and Nicole in this episode comment on the networking power of the like minded, innovative producers of products as part of ABI’s hub and in their combined spheres of influence.
In addition to creating a competitive business climate, ABI has embarked upon a new initiative identifying the “Coolest Thing Made in Iowa” – with nominations for the statewide competition opening March 25. Nominate your manufacturer today at www.coolestthingia.com. A popular vote will set the field for this tournament, with a bracketed-style approach akin to basketball, and 16 Iowa-made products competing in head-to-head matchups.
For more information on ABI, please go to www.iowaabi.org or contact Nicole at ncrain@iowaabi.org.