National Manufacturing Day Cause for Celebration in Brevard County, Florida

30 September 2019 (Titusville, Florida) – On Florida’s Space Coast, there is much to celebrate this Friday, October 4^th for National Manufacturing Day. More than 23 percent of the jobs created between 2015 and 2018 in this east coast county were in manufacturing, far exceeding the national total of 2.9 percent.

The annual celebration, however, comes amid reports that some segments of the economy are headed into a recession. 

According to Bryan Scott, owner of Barn Light Electric, a lighting manufacturer located in Titusville, most manufacturers are paying the price in the trade war even if it’s only a small portion of their business. 

“There’s a lot of uncertainty right now especially with higher costs associated with tariffs,” Scott says. “We understand the purpose of the tariffs, but some of our vendors are being impacted by these costs which are passed down to us.” Scott expects US manufacturing to be a hot topic in the upcoming election season.

No stranger to running a business during uncertain economic times, Scott and his wife launched Barn Light Electric during the depths of the 2008 recession with a handful of employees in a small storefront in downtown Titusville.

The company now occupies a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and employs more than 130 people who handcraft a variety of American-made, vintage-inspired lighting. The company will celebrate National Manufacturing Day with a catered lunch for the employees.

“In spite of the uncertainties, we are still employing talented people who are passionate about making great lighting,” Scott says. “And consumers continue to seek out American-made products because the quality is so much better. Once you hold these fixtures in your hands, you can see and feel the difference.” 

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