29 MAY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Explosives Build America Adapted from Information by the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) IME released its first ever economic impact study highlighting the importance of the commercial explosives industry at the national, state, and congressional district levels. IME hired John Dunham & Associates, a prominent economic research firm, to conduct the study. The analysis revealed the industry creates more than 60,000 jobs and contributes more than $19 billion each year to the U.S. economy. Considered the ultimate power tool, commercial explosives are essential for quarrying aggregates necessary to build our nation’s infrastructure, mining critical minerals, and producing both traditional and renewable sources of energy. “Few people today give much thought to the essential role commercial explosives play in our everyday lives,” said IME President Clark Mica. “Throughout our nation’s history, commercial explosives have not only helped build America, they have enabled our modern way of life. Whether it is the car you drive to work, the fuel you use to power your car, the roads you drive on, or the mobile phone you use to communicate, commercial explosives make all of these things possible.” The study showed commercial explosives generated more than $1.2 billion in federal taxes and another $1 billion in state and local taxes which goes to important things like building roads and schools. “Our mission is to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of commercial explosives,” said Jason Rawlings, president of Austin Powder Co., and vice chair of IME’s board of governors. “While there are still significant opportunities to grow our workforce, you can’t dispute the overall positive impact our industry has in the U.S.” Commercial explosives are used in all 50 states and are essential to our modern way of life. EXB
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