The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced that Deere & Company has joined the elite ranks of the I Make America campaign’s Gold-level company supporters.

I Make America is a grassroots campaign that was launched in September 2010 to dramatically improve American manufacturing policies to create more jobs in the United States and keep our economy competitive with other countries.

“We commend Deere & Company for achieving Gold status in the I Make America campaign,” said Dennis Slater, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). “As a committed member of AEM, Deere & Company has been an essential voice in Washington, encouraging stronger manufacturing policies that keep businesses competitive and growing here in the United States.”

“John Deere is proud to participate in the I Make America campaign,” said Michael J. Mack, president, worldwide construction and forestry division of Deere & Company. “We applaud AEM’s efforts to draw the attention of policymakers to critical issues affecting manufacturers in a very real way.”

I Make America Gold-Level supporters are an important group of companies that have achieved participation benchmarks marking them as industry leaders. Benchmarks can include significant employee involvement; outreach to their state, local and federal legislators; promoting campaign sign-ups at trade shows and with allied trade associations; and production of A Day in American Life video telling the story of how their companies, employees and communities “make America.”

The campaign has enlisted the support of more than 26,000 people nationwide, AEM’s 850 plus member companies and industry organizations.

To learn more about I Make America, visit us at www.IMakeAmerica.com. View short videos of employees and small business owners around the country telling the real life stories of how manufacturing affects the national economy at www.ADayinAmericanLife.com.