Economic Development Administration Award Will Help Local Manufacturers Compete With Global Competitors
Program Links Smaller Regional Suppliers With Large Companies
WASHINGTON, DC – Today U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that the Agile Hardware Design Center at Innovation Works, Inc. in Pittsburgh is set to receive $1,862,150 in federal funds to boost the region’s emerging advanced manufacturing sector.
These funds will connect innovative small suppliers in the region with large companies, linking research with the start-ups that can commercialize new ideas, and train workers with skills that firms need to capitalize on business opportunities. These public-private partnerships consist of small and large businesses, colleges, nonprofits, and other local stakeholders that “cluster” in a particular area.
“This grant will give Southwestern Pennsylvania manufacturers the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace and stay on the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing,” Casey said. “Commercializing a new product is a significant challenge for small businesses. These funds will make it easier for small businesses to commercialize their products, resulting in economic growth and job creation.”
The Agile Hardware Design Center will spur new and growth-stage entrepreneurial companies that harness advanced manufacturing and accelerate the commercialization of technologies for advanced manufacturing needs. By reducing the risks associated with commercialization , these companies can more aggressively compete with global competitors.
Senator Casey has been pushing for a manufacturing strategy that helps Pennsylvania businesses create jobs, including a permanent tax credit to give businesses the certainty they need to make long-term investments. Senator Casey has also held multiple hearings in the Joint Economic Committee on domestic manufacturing, which focused on equipping workers with the skills they need for new jobs critical to the nation’s long-term economic success.
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