Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives for...

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives for a rally in Syracuse on Friday, April 1, 2016. Credit: AP / Mike Groll

Hillary Clinton announced a proposal for $10 billion in funds for manufacturing partnerships while campaigning at the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central on Friday.

The proposal, which is an investment in “Make it in America Partnerships,” is aimed at encouraging large and small manufacturers to locate their jobs in the United States.

“There are a lot of voices in our country who don’t think we can bring manufacturing back,” Clinton said. “Well, I just disagree.”

Upstate New York, with its mix of manufacturing and rural towns, was the setting for the announcement and, in the coming weeks, for Clinton’s campaigning in the state, the campaign said.

The roundtable was part reunion and part testimonials by local business owners — from a wine ice cream-maker to parts manufacturers — who gave their endorsement of Clinton based on her work as senator.

It’s the kind of session that the Clinton campaign hopes to recreate across the state as it highlights her economic record in New York and underscores her presidential platform.

“We absolutely believe that her work as senator in upstate New York will serve as a blueprint for what she will do as president,” said Jake Sullivan, a senior Clinton policy adviser, in a call with reporters previewing the announcement.

“The campaign will really be highlighting how Hillary made a difference — a real difference in people’s lives,” Sullivan added.

Even as she pitched the virtues of wine ice cream, Clinton took a few jabs at her opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. She criticized him for opposing the Export-Import Bank, which she said is critical to helping U.S. small businesses find markets for their products abroad.

Sanders opposes the Export-Import Bank, which he regularly calls Boeing’s Bank because of how much the multinational aerospace and defense contractor benefits from the program.

Elsewhere on the campaign trail Friday, Donald Trump told The Associated Press that his decision to stand behind his campaign manager, who was charged in an altercation with a female reporter, is a sign of loyalty.

The Republican presidential candidate said in an interview that he wouldn’t have accepted Corey Lewandowski’s resignation even if it had been offered. But he also seemed to acknowledge that he’s had a difficult week leading into what could be a crucial primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

When asked whether Lewandowski had offered his resignation at any point this week, Trump replied, “Well, I’d rather not say, but it wouldn’t have mattered.”

“When I looked at that tape, I said I’m just not going to hurt this man by doing something that should not be done.”

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