As a new month begins, fall is obviously in the air -- the mornings are cooler and we’ve, hopefully, at least, said goodbye to temperatures in the 90s and even the high 80s.

But Oct. 1 is a day to mark something that is all around us but might not seem as obvious as leaves that are beginning to turn color and fall to the ground. 

Held each year on the first Friday in October, National Manufacturing Day not only celebrates the importance of (but often overlooked) manufacturing in our daily lives but also the millions of people the industry employees.

According to the Manufacturing Institute, the day and rest of October are meant to show the “reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders. 

“As manufacturers seek to fill four million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying jobs over the next decade, National Manufacturing Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive,” according to the Manufacturing Institute.

The industry’s business climate in the Fayetteville area is vibrant and growing, but an ongoing challenge is finding facilities for the manufacturers who want to move here or expand. There are two notable things that attract manufacturers to the Greater Fayetteville area -- an especially qualified and reliable workforce birthed from the local military population and easy access to Interstate 95, one of the most vital highways in the nation not only for moving the goods that companies make, but also the materials they need in the production process.

According to Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, his organization has lost business because of the lack of suitable buildings manufacturers need.

New facilities, such as those being developed at Liberty Point in the Hope Mills I-95 industrial corridor, are helping, Van Geons said.

Meanwhile, FCEDC is trying to ensure there are workers to fill the high demand for manufacturing jobs, which, by the way, tend to pay well and offer generous benefits.

“Manufacturing Day ... emphasizes the significance of the manufacturing industry and its employees and highlights the array of occupations available for future generations to pursue a rewarding career in the sector,” Maarja Hightower, FCEDC’s director of communications, told the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal on Friday.

According to a Friday news release, FCEDC and Cumberland County Schools have organized virtual sessions between local manufacturers and students enrolled in engineering and technology classes.

Among those participating are:

-- Nitta Gelatin, the top global supplier of gelatin and collagen ingredients used in pharmaceuticals and food. Company officials are meeting with Southview High School’s Technology classes to discuss career paths. 

-- The Chemours Company, a global leader in titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions, is meeting with students from Jack Britt High School’s Integrated Systems Technology Academy of Engineering. 

-- DuPont will introduce Westover High School’s Engineering classes to careers in cutting-edge technology. At their Fayetteville Works facility, DuPont produces component materials for polyvinyl fluoride film used in the protective backing layer of solar cells, a renewable energy technology that converts sunlight into electricity. 

“With an increasing demand for highly skilled professionals, these collaborative educational sessions serve to inspire a new generation of manufacturers in Fayetteville and Cumberland County,” Hightower said

“Many of these jobs require specialized skills and training, provided by our local educational institutions. They include careers in engineering, computer operations, maintenance, safety, human resources, management, and logistics.” 

As one of the primary drivers of our national economy, the manufacturing sector employs millions in cutting-edge fields utilizing innovative technology such as 3D printing, automation, robotics, drones, and virtual reality. In addition, the sector produces goods that improve, save, and sustain lives such as medical equipment, household appliances, and food products. 

Hightower added: “Fayetteville and Cumberland County have a long tradition of making what the world needs. Many innovative manufacturers have chosen to produce in our community, from metalworking to auto parts, to proteins and plastics, to electrical equipment and transmission components. According to Emsi, an economic modeling data platform, manufacturing employs more than 6,000 in Cumberland County, providing more than $447 million in wages each year.”

“Manufacturing continues to play a critical role in our local and regional economy,” Van Geons said. “Beyond the millions in annual wages paid to employees, these operations contribute substantially to the local tax base, providing revenue that is used for schools, parks, and public services.”