Manufacturers associations act fast to help members in new ways during pandemic

The spotlight is on manufacturing, with companies across the nation and throughout the region making essential items for the pandemic, from face shields to hand sanitizer.

That's led some manufacturers to add employees. Others, without being able to shift  for various reasons, have laid off and/or furloughed employees. But for nearly all manufacturers across the region, the pandemic has brought with it a host of questions — and manufacturing associations have provided answers and resources to help. Manufacturing associations have had to alter their operations during the pandemic, too, including the Sarasota-Manatee Manufacturers Association and the Bay Area Manufacturers Association in Tampa. SAMA and BAMA are two of 14 regional manufacturers associations in Florida.