Mikulski Continues Jobs Tour of Maryland with Roundtable on Manufacturing Jobs at Marlin Steel

February 13, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today toured and hosted a roundtable discussion on specialized manufacturing at Marlin Steel in Baltimore. She was joined in the discussion by Charles Wetherington of BTE Technologies, Peter Bowe of Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, William Hutton of Titan Steel, Jean-Luc Abaziou of Techno Science, Suzy Ganz of Lion Brothers and Drew Greenblatt of Marlin Steel. The visit was another stop in Senator Mikulski's jobs tour of Maryland.  

"Today's discussion was about jobs, jobs, jobs," Senator Mikulski said. "I always say, 'The best ideas come from the people.' Washington doesn't have all the answers when it comes to manufacturing. That's why I came to hear what Maryland's specialized manufacturers need. We need more manufacturing jobs like the kind we saw today at Marlin Steel."  

The roundtable focused on what Congress could do to encourage manufacturing from Research and Development tax credits to connecting businesses with community colleges for workforce training.  

As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, Senator Mikulski has provided strong funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) under the Economic Development Administration. TAAF supports companies by providing grants for financial support to make changes and technical expertise to advise companies on the changes.  

In 2010, Marlin Wire won a TAAF grant which enabled them to change their business model, refine their product line and make strategic efficiencies to cut overhead costs. They have since graduated from the TAAF program.