Company signs Pledge to the American Worker during secretary’s visit
JACKSON CENTER — U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt praised Airstream employees for their dedication to their profession and thanked them for their role in helping many families create memories during his local visit Wednesday, relating some of his own recollections from his childhood stemming from experiences with the company’s travel trailer.
As a youngster, Secretary Bernhardt said his family was in the ranching business, and his grandfather raised sheep and also had an Airstream travel trailer, likely a 1960s model.
“What you’re doing here is phenomenal,” he said to the employees gathered outdoors, as the company leadership prepared to sign the Trump Administration’s Pledge to the American Worker Wednesday afternoon.
“I have such fond memories of those times with my grandfather and his Airstream trailer. You’re giving many families this same opportunity to visit their national parks and outdoor locations to spend time together; what a better time than now to be outdoors together.”
The Department of the Interior is charged with facilitating outdoor recreation opportunities across the country, managing approximately 500 million acres of land. Secretary Bernhardt related how travel trailers help outdoor enthusiasts visit America’s national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands.
He was joined by Airstream leadership as they highlighted outdoor recreation industry’s role relating to the resurgence of the American economy during his tour of Airstream Factory Service Center, where each of the riveted aluminum travel trailers is manufactured by hand.
Just this year, Airstream transitioned production of its travel trailers into its new $60 million, 723,000 square foot factory located just west of Jackson Center, beginning Jan. 2. Staff also moved into corporate offices at this facility in recent months, and the Heritage Center will be opening on site next year.
Christine McKenzie, executive assistant to CEO and president Bob Wheeler, said demand for the company’s products is stronger than ever, as many families around the country are eager to pursue outdoor recreation, as a safe way to spend time together during the pandemic. The travel trailers take about 3 1/2 days to complete from start to finish, and 120 units are currently manufactured every week, with that number soon increasing to 140 units produced per week, in addition to the touring coaches produced across the street, she noted.
Currently, the company employs approximately 800 associates, and Airstream plans to hire several hundred additional people in the next year to keep pace with demand, McKenzie said.
Following the tour of the manufacturing operations, Airstream’s leadership signed the Pledge to America’s Workers, committing to invest in their workforce and expand job opportunities in Ohio. Since the program launched in 2018, more than 450 companies have signed the pledge, committing to support more than 16.3 million job and training-related opportunities for American workers.
Secretary Bernhardt also highlighted The Great American Outdoors Act, recently signed by President Donald Trump. The act provides $1.9 billion a year for the next five years to address deferred maintenance needs at national parks, refuges, American Indian schools and other public lands throughout the country.
“The RV industry is an important part of our outdoor recreation economy with millions of RVers traversing into our iconic national parks, refuges and public lands,” he said. “With President Trump signing the Great American Outdoors Act, we will invest billions of dollars to improve our facilities and infrastructure, so RVers and other visitors can make memories on our public lands for generations to come.”
Airstream President & CEO Bob Wheeler said the company was grateful for the passage of this legislation, and its support of the 20 million RVers across the U.S. He related that the outdoor recreation industry generates $114 billion nationally and $4 billion in Ohio.
“The passage of the Great American Outdoors Act comes at an ideal time as many Americans are turning to RVs in unprecedented numbers to experience the great outdoors and our iconic public lands,” he said. “With so many new RVers, Airstream remains committed as ever to workforce development and job creation here in Ohio.
“We are excited to host Secretary Bernhardt at our Airstream facility and grateful for his leadership in ensuring that these shared natural spaces receive the funding they deserve. We are also thankful to all members of Congress from both parties who supported this legislation, and to Ohio Senator Rob Portman in particular, who has spent the last decade leading the effort to secure this much needed funding for our public lands.”
RV Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Landers said campground modernization efforts that will result from this legislation will provide a benefit for consumers now and in the future.
“Our country’s renowned national parks are one of the most favored destinations for RVers who will benefit greatly from the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act,” he said “Secretary Bernhardt has been a leader on the issue of improving our public lands and we look forward to continuing to work with him and his team to identify projects that will make the biggest impact to improve the access, safety and enjoyment of RVers on our public lands for generations to come.”
West Liberty-Salem High School graduate Nicholas Davis was part of the team traveling with Secretary Bernhardt Wednesday. Davis, an advance representative for the secretary, is a 2018 Ohio State University graduate and a son of Scott and Tracy Davis of West Liberty.
Airstream was founded by Wally Byam in his backyard in Los Angeles in the late 1920s. When production resumed after World War II, Byam opened the new facility in West-Central Ohio.