[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8394-S8395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING STERLING ROPE COMPANY

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, American manufacturers have faced a 
variety of persistent challenges over the past several decades, 
including competition from foreign markets and rising structural costs. 
Nonetheless, the manufacturing industry remains resilient in the United 
States. The sector still supports roughly 18.6 million jobs in the 
United States, or approximately one-sixth of all private sector jobs, 
and American manufacturing produces $1.6 trillion of value every year 
equaling 11 percent of U.S. gross domestic product. And just yesterday, 
we got word from the Institute for Supply Management, or ISM, that 
November marked the 16th straight month of positive growth for American 
manufacturing. And so, today I recognize one of Maine's remarkable 
small manufacturing companies, Sterling Rope Company, which has been 
producing high quality rope for more than a decade and a half.
  Sterling Rope got its beginnings in 1993, when president and founder 
Carolyn Brodsky opened her business in Massachusetts. By 1997, Ms. 
Brodsky

[[Page S8395]]

decided to relocate her firm to Maine for a number of reasons, 
including our State's high-skilled workforce and quality of life. Over 
the past 13 years, Sterling Rope has grown in size, moving from its 
original Maine location in Scarborough to a larger facility in Saco, 
before settling at its present location in the Biddeford Industrial 
Park.
  The company manufactures rope for a plethora of activities an uses, 
including climbing, rope rescue, and industrial safety. In particular, 
Sterling Rope prides itself as a leader in the advancement and 
production of life safety rope and cord. One of the company's products, 
the FireTech 32, is the direct result of its partnership with New York 
City's Fire Department, which provided Sterling with feedback on how to 
best construct the rope. The FireTech 32 is now FDNY's official escape 
rope. Indeed, the firm is noted for its exceptionally creative and 
collaborative product development. The company has created a Sterling 
Athletes Team, which is a collection of expert climbers from around the 
world that test Sterling's products and provided critical feedback for 
the company.
  Additionally, Sterling helps promote and support a variety of 
climbing events and philanthropic efforts on its multifaceted Web site. 
One inspiring event that Sterling has publicized is the Climb for 
Cancer Cure, a mountain-climbing fundraiser held each summer since 2006 
to raise both funds and awareness for people suffering because of 
cancer. All of the money raised from the climbs goes to help comfort 
cancer patients at the Marshall L. and Susan Gibson Pavilion at Maine 
Medical Center in Portland, by donating amenities like CD and DVD 
players. Climb for Cancer Cure also provides family members with 
baskets containing gift cards to help them defray the costs associated 
with visiting their loved ones, such as for lodging and gas. I thank 
Sterling Rope for recognizing this tremendous initiative.
  Sterling Rope is a prime example of a leading manufacturing company 
in my home State that is dedicated to making quality products and 
providing responsiveness to its customers. I am proud that Carolyn 
Brodsky moved her company to Maine nearly a decade and a half ago, and 
I hope she continues to expand her extraordinary operations. I thank 
her and everyone at Sterling Rope Company for their hard work, and wish 
them continued success.

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