A few years ago, as an adjunct professor at Pierpont Community and Technical College, I taught a leadership course to second year students. They were incredible. All worked and attended Community College. One young lady even supported her father. Their jobs weren’t very high wage. They wanted to better themselves. In August I told them, “All you have to do is graduate in May and stay drug free and you have a $60,000 a year job waiting for you.”

By October all of my students had at least one job offer. Some had multiple offers. I asked them, “When you start getting those big paychecks what are you going to buy?” Their #1 dream item was a pickup truck. They knew exactly what it was going to look like. The #2 item was a house. #3 was WVU Mountaineer season football tickets.

Because of their new jobs they could stay in the region, buy a vehicle, a home and plan to start a family. The students I have crossed paths with since all have their pickup truck. Some have the house and one or two kids. They are still working on the WVU season football tickets. Manufacturing jobs can keep our young people in the region, grow our population and local economy.

Creating high wage manufacturing jobs gives young people a choice. Twenty years ago, our kids had to leave the region to find good jobs. The Shell cracker near Pittsburgh is 95% complete. This plant will create feedstock manufacturers in the region need to make the products we use every day. Eliminating shipping currently from the Gulf Coast lowers cost and reduces transportation emissions by over 1,000 miles. It also creates a more dependable supply for local companies since Shell won’t be impacted by weather extremes like hurricanes or freezes that shut down Gulf Coast plants.

Shale Crescent USA has promoted our region’s abundant affordable energy, location close to half of the U.S. consumers and experienced workforce to the world. At the World Petrochemical Conference (WPC) in 2019 our message was “Build on top of the feedstock and in the middle of customers.” It takes time for a new idea to become main stream. The concept of manufacturing in America again where the energy, feedstock and customers are located is becoming an accepted reality.

The pandemic and resulting supply chain crisis helped accelerate the change by showing Americans how dependent we are on imported products. Early in the pandemic I was a guest on WVON, Perri Small’s Show, The Talk of Chicago. WVON serves the black community. We were discussing why “Made in America” is important. Perri asked, “Mr. Kozera, we have a lot of vacant buildings here. What can we do to bring manufacturing back to Chicago? If we can create good jobs, we can give our young people hope and end the gun violence in this city.” She was spot on! Chicago has the opportunity to bring jobs back to their city and give people hope.

Hope in the present creates power to change the future. The announcements of Nucor Steel, Intel, Peloton, Green Power in Charleston, Sherwin Williams in Cleveland and other smaller projects show manufacturing in the USA again is more than an idea. It is a reality giving people hope they desperately need. Shale Crescent USA is also working with companies who haven’t formally announced but are quietly hiring people and expanding in the SCUSA.

Last September, prior to their recent announcement to build near Point Pleasant, WV, the Associated Press reported Nucor announced plans to build their steel mill in either Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia. (The Shale Crescent USA)

Here are some comments from articles in the Columbus Dispatch about Intel’s planned microchip plant near Columbus you may find interesting; “We are burying the term rust belt.” “We cannot afford to outsource these critical components any longer.” “Let’s build these things (chips) where we want them” “It’s a once in a generation opportunity” “For young people, for middle class kids, this represents a tremendous opportunity for the future, and how they can support themselves and live in this area and prosper.” “Kids who have moved away will be looking to come back. Planes fly in two directions.” “Greater Columbus is within a day’s drive of 46% of U.S. manufacturing.” “We have the history and know-how of how to make things here.” “Extreme weather events here aren’t as dramatic as in other parts of the country.”

The Intel CEO talked about creating a geographic supply chain instead of a global supply chain. “The site is within a day’s drive of every major Midwest city, making it possible to create an ecosystem across the entire region.” This is a major thinking change. Geographic supply chains lower cost, improve dependability and help the environment by eliminating thousands of miles of transportation emissions. SCUSA is working with a company who has contracted with Nucor steel for their expansion. Their steel will likely be made in West Virginia.

It is all about people and prosperity. Expect an increase in students at technical schools and community colleges. Like my students, good jobs aren’t a wish or a theory anymore. They are real and waiting for students to fill them. If Intel, Nucor and others get started as planned, the initial jobs will be in the building trades. It’s a good time for people to consider entering apprentice programs where they can earn while they learn. These programs are 100% job placement. Those interested can contact the particular trade Local in their area.

Prosperous people with good jobs don’t need to turn to crime or drugs. Like Perri Small said, “We can end the gun violence.” We can keep people off drugs. Prosperous people want a cleaner planet. If someone is hungry or struggling to pay the rent, the environment isn’t a big concern. Success creates success. We are just getting started. Thoughts to ponder.