The state of Virginia is now the eleventh area in the country to participate in the "Dream It. Do It." campaign, developed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its research, education, and work force arm, The Manufacturing Institute. The campaign is designed to build strong regional alliances to attract young people to careers in advanced manufacturing and provide them with related education and training opportunities.
 
According to NAM President and CEO John Engler, "America is in a worldwide race for skilled talent. More than 80 percent of NAM members are having difficulty finding qualified employees for today's high-tech workplace.We must inspire more young people to prepare for and pursue careers in manufacturing if we want to remain globally competitive."

The campaign has spread to Virginia, Nebraska, Indiana, and regions in Ohio, Texas, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois, with more in the pipeline. National partners include The College Board, Monster, Skills USA, and the American Association of Community Colleges.