Hurdles propel First State Manufacturing to new heights

Commercial sewing company First State Manufacturing represents Delaware manufacturing and American ingenuity on the editorial series This Built America, which is a project devoted to the people and companies re-imagining and rebuilding American manufacturing.

Nothing in life was ever handed to First State founders Eli and Sher Valenzuela. Eli, who grew up in the projects of Corpus Christi, Texas, is the true definition of a self-made man. After serving in the army, he and his wife Sher were embarking on civilian life when their infant son was diagnosed with autism. The new parents were told he’d need special services their insurance would not cover. In order to create a better life for their family, the couple took a major risk. They both quit their jobs to focus on growing First State, which until that point had been a side business for Eli.

“We didn’t know how humble our beginnings were,” says Sher of those naïve early days. “We weren’t aware of what we couldn’t do, so we just did it.”

To see how First State has grown its business while offering opportunities to employees in the small community of Milford, go to www.thisbuiltamerica.com/delaware or follow This Built America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus.

First State Manufacturing joins a national movement in This Built America that is devoted to supporting American companies and American-made products. AOL is proud to support the effort along with sponsor Ford Trucks. Through the year, the editorial and video teams will explore 50 states in 50 weeks to bring 50 stories of the people who are bringing back manufacturing to America. The platform is produced in coordination with Man Made Content.