Delaware’s manufacturing conference will spotlight the skilled labor shortage and marijuana

Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership will hold its Spring Manufacturing and Policy Conference virtually on March 24 for discussion on the challenges to the state’s manufacturing industry, featuring Gov. John Carney and Carolyn Lee, executive director of D.C.’s The Manufacturing Institute.

The event will include virtual networking, expert conversation about the skilled labor shortage, and a marijuana roundtable on the impact legalization would have on local businesses.

Some of the challenges to be discussed include the manufacturing industry’s transition to high tech, retraining and retaining talent, loss of skilled employees due to retiring Baby Boomers, and finding skilled talent. The conference will also cover the applied effectiveness of the CARES Act-funded Forward Delaware, the rapid training program designed to get Delawareans unemployed by COVID-19 retrained in high-need industries and back to work.

Among the companies in attendance will be Agilent, Gore, Proctor & Gamble, DuPont, Chemours and FMC.

The event will take place online from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Tickets must be purchased, with reduced pricing available for members of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.