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State-Designated Strategic Industries, SREB States

State Industries

Alabama Automotive; Chemicals; Forestry products; Metals and advanced materials; Bioscience
Arkansas Aerospace and defense; Corporate and shared services; Distribution and logistics services; Food
and beverage; Metals; Paper and timber products; Software development and data management
services; Transportation equipment manufacturing
Kentucky Advanced manufacturing; Business and IT services; Construction; Health care; Transportation and
logistics
Louisiana Advanced manufacturing; Aerospace; Agribusiness; Automotive; Energy; Entertainment; Process
industries; Software development; Water management
Maryland Advanced manufacturing; Aerospace and defense; Agribusiness; BioHealth and life sciences; Energy
and sustainability; Financial services; Information technology and cybersecurity; Military and federal
Mississippi Advanced manufacturing; Agribusiness; Aerospace; Automotive; Energy; Healthcare; Shipbuilding;
Tourism
North Carolina Aerospace and defense; Automotive, truck and heavy machinery; Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals;
Business and financial services; Energy; Food processing and manufacturing; Furniture; Information
technology; Plastics and chemicals; Textiles; Tourism
Oklahoma Aerospace and defense; Agriculture and biosciences; Energy; Information and financial services;
Transportation and distribution
South Carolina Advanced manufacturing; Construction technologies; Energy; Healthcare; Information technology;
Tourism and service industries; Transportation; Distribution and logistics
Tennessee Aerospace and defense; Appliances and electrical; Automotive; Chemicals; Distribution and
logistics; Food and agriculture; Headquarters, finance and tech; Healthcare and life sciences;
Rubber, ceramics and glass
Texas Advanced technologies and manufacturing; Aerospace and defense; Biotechnology and life sciences;
Energy; Information and computer technology; Petroleum refining and chemical products
Virginia Corporate services; Food and beverage processing; Information technology; Life sciences;
Manufacturing; Supply chain management; Unmanned systems
West Virginia Aerospace and defense; Agriculture; Automotive; Building products; Chemicals and polymers; Energy;
Fulfillment distribution; Information technology; Manufacturing; Metals

Source: SREB review of publicly available data or contacts with state agencies.

All SREB states with designated strategic industry sectors had at least one industry in the
manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is a critical strategic investment given the decades-long
decline of American manufacturing and the continuing importance of manufacturing to the
overall health of the U.S. economy. In a 2019 report, Upskilling and Downsizing in American
Manufacturing, labor market economists at the Georgetown University Center on Education and
the Workforce highlight what is at stake and the types of industries and occupations most likely
to generate well-paying middle-skill jobs for the citizens of SREB states:
Manufacturing has an enduring legacy as the pre-eminent source of good jobs
available to workers without a bachelor’s degree. In 2016, despite decades of
employment decline, it still provided the largest number of good jobs for workers
without a bachelor’s degree, with 4.8 million, or 16% of all those jobs. It is the top
industry for good jobs for workers without a bachelor’s degree in 35 states.

good jobshave minimum earnings of $35,000 per year age 25-44, $45,000 per year age 45 and older.

10 SREB | Partnerships to Align Education and Careers | October 2020