NAM's 2026 Manufacturing Tour Highlights Infrastructure Priorities

A Harmonious Call for Infrastructure Investments: The NAM State of Manufacturing Tour

Starting with the energetic atmosphere at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and concluding with an impactful note in Phoenix, the 2026 NAM State of Manufacturing Tour embarked on a pivotal journey. Over the span of 10 days, this tour underscored the critical need for policy reforms in manufacturing across several U.S. states. The resounding message to Congress was to prioritize substantial infrastructure investments and implement comprehensive permitting reforms.

Arizona's Showcase

In collaboration with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, NAM organized a day full of activities emphasizing Arizona’s significant role in industrial expansion.

• Phoenix featured a productive day starting with a roundtable discussion on permitting reform with key business and community figures, and visits to EMD Electronics, a crucial semiconductor industry collaborator, and Four Peaks Brewery, the state's largest craft brewer.

Voices from the Ground

Jay Timmons, NAM President and CEO, emphasized Arizona's proactive stance: “Arizona shows what happens when competitiveness leads. It didn’t happen by chance—it happened because this state has chosen to lead on taxes, workforce, and a business climate. But even here, federal permitting delays threaten progress. If we’re serious about semiconductors, critical minerals, and energy infrastructure, it’s time to build the next generation of robust infrastructure we need, and 2026 must be the year of permitting reform.”

• Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden added, “Arizona has proven that smart policy and regulatory clarity drive investment and growth. But at the federal level, permitting delays are slowing projects that matter to our economy and national security.”
• Katherine Dei Cas, executive vice president of EMD Electronics, pointed out, “Arizona has become a premier destination for semiconductor manufacturing, and we’re proud to be part of that dynamic and growing ecosystem. Strong collaboration among industry, community and government partners is essential to sustaining this momentum and ensuring semiconductor innovation.”

The Nationwide Tour

Covering seven states—New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas, and Arizona—the NAM State of Manufacturing Tour connected manufacturing leaders, workers, educators, students, and elected officials. This initiative highlighted the vital policies essential for the U.S. to maintain and enhance its competitiveness in the global market, focusing on areas such as tax policy, permitting reform, energy dominance, workforce, and trade policy. For more details, visit the NAM Input Stories.

Media Coverage

The tour's stop in Houston was covered by the Houston Business Journal (subscription required), and WISN reported on the Milwaukee events.