WLUC TV 6 Marquette: Senator Gary Peters continues 4th Annual Michigan Motorcycle Tour with stop in Escanaba

ESCANABA, Mich. (WLUC) - United States Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), is making his way across the Upper Peninsula, on his Annual Michigan Motorcycle Tour.

Senator Peters has been riding his whole life, and this is his fourth year doing the tour. The Democrat says the stops he makes along the way help him shape policy in Washington, D.C.

"That's why I do this trip around Michigan, to listen to folks around the state, especially those folks doing some really innovative, creative things that we can hopefully turn into national models," said Peters.

On Tuesday, Peters had the chance to tour Engineered Machined Products, a manufacturer headquarter in Escanaba that has operated for nearly 30 years making things like oil pumps, alternators, and electric fans.

“He also talked about talent development, as well as his vision for manufacturing in America," said Paul Harvey, vice president of business development and administration at EMP.

Peters says companies like EMP are vital to the future of United States manufacturing, and hopes they can help lead the way in reviving the industry.

The key to that future is a skilled labor force. Senator Peters watched a demonstration by Escanaba High School robotics team members, some of whom may very well work at EMP one day.

"They can come out of high school with those skills and get a job here at a company like EMP and others and these are good paying middle class jobs,” said Peters. “We've got to expand those opportunities for folks and focus on career technical education."

"It just shows that a lot of the higher up people care about the things we do, and it's really awesome," said robotics team member Braden Beauchamp.

Peters left Escanaba after the tour on his way up to Marquette. He has a stop in Ishpeming Wednesday before making his way back down to Traverse City and Grand Rapids later in the week.