In this podcast episode, Leisa Fox explores the significance of manufacturing in Iowa with guest Debbie Durham, Director at Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority.
Iowa has a rich history of supplying the world with various products, and manufacturing holds the largest share in the state's GDP. The industry has a substantial impact on employment, with 3.6 supportive jobs created for every manufacturing job. Iowa received top marks for manufacturing health in 2020, highlighting its strong economy and diverse manufacturing sector.
Despite agriculture's association with Iowa, manufacturing surpasses it as the leading industry. While agriculture contributes around 8-9% to the GDP, manufacturing makes up approximately 18%. However, the foundational role of agriculture is also recognized as many manufacturing plants are located in Iowa due to its agricultural resources.
Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/debbie-durham-manufacturing
