Manufacturing in the United States isn’t easy. Companies large and small deal with onerous federal and state regulations, stiff competition, and finding and keeping skilled workers.

Michael Kane lived an ordinary life: He worked hard, married, and raised a family. He attended church and followed the Red Sox. Yet his life is extraordinary because it’s part of the much larger Lowell, MA manufacturing story.

Building a piece of furniture requires experienced and knowledgeable hands-on fabrication skills. Keeping this knowledge and craftsmanship alive is the mission of the Alexander Furniture Academy in Taylorsville, NC.

Available at your local post office, ReadyPost shipping supplies are made by Pratt Industries’ Retail Specialities division. Pratt is a large U.S. manufacturer with facilities in 25 states. The company invests in sustainability and keeping jobs in the U.S.