Iowa Food Processing Plants and the Case for Domestic Workforce Mobility

by Ariel Diaz | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

Iowa runs on food processing. Pork, beef, corn, soy, ethanol, frozen foods — if it comes in a package or fills a tanker, Iowa probably had a hand in making it. The state is one of the top food and agribusiness states in the country, and the facilities that drive...

South Carolina’s Manufacturing Labor Gap Is Geographic, Not Structural

by Ariel Diaz | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

South Carolina has had one of the most impressive manufacturing expansions in the Southeast. BMW, Volvo, Boeing, Michelin, and a dense network of suppliers have made the Upstate and Lowcountry regions into serious industrial zones. The state has invested heavily in...

Virginia Manufacturing Employers Are Running Out of Local Workers

by Ariel Diaz | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

Virginia has positioned itself aggressively as a manufacturing destination over the past decade. Defense contracting, data center support, food and beverage processing, and automotive components have all driven facility expansion across the state. The Northern...

Wisconsin Food Processing Facilities Face a Growing Workforce Crisis

by Ariel Diaz | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

Wisconsin’s food processing industry is one of the most important in the country. Dairy, meat packing, frozen foods, and beverage manufacturing all run through this state. And right now, facility managers across Wisconsin are telling me the same thing: they...

Alabama Manufacturing’s Labor Shortage: Why Local Hiring Isn’t Working

by Ariel Diaz | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

I’ve talked to plant managers across Alabama who have done everything right. They raised wages. They ran ads on Indeed. They partnered with local community colleges. And they still can’t fill their lines.The problem isn’t their effort. It’s the...