Congressman Keith Ellison To Open IFAI Expo

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On October 14, 2014, Congressman Keith Ellison will join hundreds of companies in the industrial fabrics marketplace converging on Minneapolis to mark the opening of the Industrial Fabrics Association International's Specialty Fabrics Expo and Advanced Textiles Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Congressman will be present at the show floor ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. that morning. He will tour the show floor and meet with Minnesota companies in support of their efforts to build and maintain their businesses and expand the Minnesotan industrial fabrics marketplace.

The IFAI Expo is the largest of its kind in the United States. Thousands of exhibitors and attendees gather to do business, network, and engage with educational programming.

Senator Al Franken, although unable to attend personally, will send staffers to show his support of the event. The senator writes, "our State is the epicenter for medical devices, an industry with an increasing reliance on advanced textiles, so it's no surprise that more and more specialty fabrics and advanced textiles businesses are calling Minnesota home."

Franken's counterpart, Senator Amy Klobuchar, prepared a video to welcome attendees to the conference and talk about the important contributions they make to the American economy, especially in a time when bringing jobs back to America is a focus for many businesses owners and politicians. The video is available at the following link.

Members of the press are invited to attend the Opening Ceremony and meet with the congressman. The Makers Coalition, a group of companies working to expand the trained American sewing workforce, will hold its annual meeting and reception on October 15 at 4:30 p.m., another event open to the press. The Coalition has already received significant national press, appearing in the New York Times, on CNBC, CNN, and KARE 11, and in other news sources. Event host IFAI recently announced a partnership with the Coalition to bring together companies seeking trained operators.

About IFAI The Industrial Fabrics Association International is the longest-operating specialty textiles and advanced fabrics trade association in the United States. IFAI's more than 1500 member companies represent all segments of the supply chain, from fibers to finished products. IFAI invests its revenue to advance the industry and support its member companies.

SOURCE Industrial Fabrics Association International