North Georgia manufacturing conference in May

A conference touting the future of manufacturing in America will be held May 19 in hard-hit Dalton, north Georgia officials announced Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) who represents the region renowned for its carpet and flooring industries, where the unemployment rate stood at 11.4 percent in January, said he’ll gather industry leaders from across the country to “focus on how we can create growth again.”

Conferees will focus on impediments to business including state and federal regulations, taxes and energy costs.