According to a new study released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, six of Virginia’s top 10 manufacturing localities are in Southwest Virginia: Smyth County ranks first, Patrick County is third, Pulaski County fifth, Bland County sixth, Giles County seventh, and Wythe County is tenth. In 1958, manufacturing accounted for 28.5 percent of the American workforce. Today, that figure is 10.4 percent. Manufacturing jobs are increasing again, thanks to a rise in domestic consumption, but exports are down, slowing down the overall manufacturing renaissance. Click here for article.