Released on October 25, 2011

Congressman Tim Walz (D-Minn.) recently visited United Machine & Foundry Co., Winona, Minn., to connect with manufacturing in his district and hear firsthand about business leaders’ ideas for growing the economy.

“Our local small businesses power our economic engine, and as we move forward with our economic recovery, we have to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed,” Walz said at the time of the tour. “I am here today to get input from [United Machine & Foundry] and to hear their ideas for revitalizing our economy and creating jobs. Some of the best ideas for how to move our economy forward are coming from right here in southern Minnesota.”

United Machine & Foundry produces a significant number of castings for the construction industry, and Walz and company executives discussed the need for rebuilt roads and bridges.

“We talked a lot about transportation and improving our infrastructure in the U.S.,” company President Tom Renk said. “That is a topic that everyone can come to agree upon, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent. If you put money back into infrastructure construction, it creates jobs.”

According to Renk, Walz toured the metalcasting facility and heard a presentation on the company’s strategic plan, with an emphasis on training and the need for more skilled people and the money to train them.

“He had never been in a foundry before,” Renk said. “We opened his eyes to an industry he didn’t know anything about.”

According to Renk, United Machine & Foundry was able to attract the attention of the congressman when one of his assistants visited last summer during a presentation for two Minnesota state representatives.

“His outlook was [to ensure an infrastructure bill is] passed to create jobs,” Renk said. “He didn’t realize that a certain amount of that trickles down to businesses like ours.”