The Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and Small Business Administration, released the first round of “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” funding.
Commerce Grant Recipients
Providence, Rhode Island – Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation— $100,000 to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation of Providence, Rhode Island to develop a strategy for establishing the Rhode Island Design and Manufacturing Center. This state-of-the-art facility would help manufacturers, inventors, and researchers advance the revitalization of Rhode Island’s manufacturing sector by addressing industry needs.
Disputanta, Virginia – Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing— $280,000 to the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing of Disputanta, Virginia to develop a strategy for establishing the Advanced Manufacturing Apprentice Academy, a regional training center that will provide hands-on training to prepare workers in Virginia’s tobacco region for careers in advanced manufacturing.
New Brunswick, New Jersey – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey— $177,762 to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick, New Jersey to support the Accelerating Advanced Food Manufacturing Partnerships initiative, which will develop strategies to strengthen the food industry sector in Newark, Camden, and Bridgeton by helping manufacturers gain access to advanced technologies, critical information, training, technology, and financing.
Caribou, Maine – Northern Maine Development Commission— $200,000 to the Northern Maine Development Commission of Caribou, Maine to create business and job opportunities and advance regional competitiveness through the Biomass Clean Tech Manufacturing Cluster Strategic Plan, which will advance the design and manufacture of biomass heating appliances in Northern Maine.
Charlotte, North Carolina – Centralina Council of Governments— $200,000 to the Centralia Council of Governments of Charlotte, North Carolina to develop a multi-faceted, implementation-ready strategy to advance the region’s advanced manufacturing sector.
Greensboro, North Carolina – Piedmont Triad Partnership— $200,000 to the Piedmont Triad Partnership of Greensboro, North Carolina to create the Aviation Innovation Partnership, a collaboration of companies, innovation assets, government, and economic development agencies that will work to strengthen supply chains, improve processes, and improve the ecosystem supporting aviation companies in the Piedmont Triad.
Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia Tech Research Corporation/ Northwest Georgia Regional Commission— $85,000 to the Georgia Tech Research Corporation and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission of Atlanta, Georgia to develop a comprehensive strategy focused on advanced manufacturing in the carpet and flooring industries in the region.
Morganton, North Carolina – Burke Partnership for Economic Development— $163,800 to the Burke Partnership for Economic Development of Morganton, North Carolina to support the Carolina Textile District project, which will connect and support textile manufacturers in the region. This will strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of the regional textile cluster.
Columbia, South Carolina – South Carolina Council on Competitiveness— $200,000 to the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness of Columbia, South Carolina to complete a strategic plan started under the South Carolina Department of Commerce Aerospace Task Force and create the Aerospace Implementation Council. These projects will help South Carolina enhance and grow its aerospace industry composed of more than 180 manufacturing companies and suppliers employing more than 20,000.
Oak Ridge, Tennessee– Tech 20/20— $200,000 to Tech20/20 of Oak Ridge, Tennessee to develop the Project Manhattan South manufacturing strategy, which will enhance competitiveness of an eight-county area by leveraging Tech 20/20's Advanced Manufacturing and Prototype Center of East Tennessee, the Advanced Composites Employment Accelerator, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Wichita, Kansas – Wichita State University— $200,000 to Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy to identify, verify, refine, and prioritize key tactical manufacturing ecosystem investments and strategically align resources to support the region’s advanced manufacturing sector.
South Sioux City, Nebraska – South Sioux City— $39,000 to South Sioux City, Nebraska to support the Planting Seeds to Grow Manufacturing in Dakota County Nebraska project, a collaborative planning effort that will bring together the key stakeholders to address the shortage of a skilled and trained workforce in support of business and industry expansions and to attract new manufacturing firms.
Salt Lake City, Utah – University of Utah— $200,000 to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah to build a cluster-based development strategy to bring innovation, growth, and sustainability to the state’s advanced composites industry cluster through increased access to capital, research, global markets, and an enhanced innovation ecosystem.
Butte, Montana – Butte Local Development Corporation— $200,000 to the Butte Local Development Corporation of Butte, Montana to establish the Montana Center of Manufacturing Technology at the Mike Mansfield Advanced Technology Center. The Center will leverage existing assets and facilitate collaboration between private and public entities to provide long-term economic and job growth solutions.
Peoria, Illinois – Economic Development Council for Central Illinois— $100,000 to the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois in Peoria, Illinois, to develop a strategy to attract new manufacturing business to Central Illinois by understanding and addressing the needs of supply chain companies and improving the available pool of manufacturing talent in the region.
Dayton, Ohio – Development Projects, Inc.— $200,000 to Development Projects, Inc., of Dayton, Ohio to examine the Dayton region’s Unmanned Aerial Systems(UAS) cluster and develop a strategy to drive growth in the sector by leveraging the region’s manufacturing capability, aerospace expertise, and recent investments in the cluster.
Rock Island, Illinois – Bi-State Regional Commission and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce — $162,500 to the Bi-State Regional Commission and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, Rock Island to develop a plan for the creation of a regional advanced manufacturing innovation hub that will help diversify the region’s economy by focusing on the growth of the vital metal and multi-materials manufacturing cluster.
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio State University, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley RDD, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization, and the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association— $199,766 to Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and four regional Economic Development Districts that cover a 25 county region in eastern Ohio (Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization, and the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association) to develop a strategy for how the region can foster long-term economic stability out of shale gas development that is resulting in increased tax revenues, short-term employment opportunities, workforce training needs, and individual and community wealth management needs.
Tucson, Arizona – Campus Research Corporation— $200,000 to the Campus Research Corporation of Tucson, Arizona to support the Border Technology Manufacturing Initiative, a regional planning group consisting of industry, workforce development, local government, and academia that will identify existing strengths and gaps in a 13-county region that spans the US/Mexico border from Yuma, Arizona to Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Los Angeles, California – University of Southern California— $200,000 to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California to develop a manufacturing strategy for the state of California by assessing the existing industrial ecosystem, identifying gaps and opportunities, leveraging existing assets and comparative advantages, forging new partnerships between the public and private sector and educational institutions, and developing a state-wide strategy to expand, strengthen and enhance advanced manufacturing.
Palm Springs, California – Coachella Valley Economic Partnership— $200,000 to the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership of Palm Springs, California to develop an implementation-ready strategy to enhance the region’s capacity to attract and expand private investment in the manufacturing sector and increase international trade and exports.
Yuma, Arizona — $140,000 to Yuma County, Arizona to develop a manufacturing strategy for Yuma County to help increase higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs by capitalizing on the county's location along the U.S. - Mexico border.
Phoenix, Arizona – Greater Phoenix Economic Council— $171,864 to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council of Phoenix, Arizona to develop strategies to implement the Innovation and Commercialization Center for Advanced Manufacturing (ICCAM), a non-profit public-private partnership that will focus on helping the region grow its advanced manufacturing sector while preparing workers for related jobs.
Fresno, California – California State University at Fresno— $178,750 to California State University at Fresno in Fresno, California to support the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Manufacturing Investment Strategy and Sustainability Plan, which will move the region further toward value-added agriculture and help create and grow food manufacturing companies in the region.
The Dalles, Oregon – Mid Columbia Economic Development District— $135,000 to the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District of The Dalles, Oregon, to develop a strategic implementation plan in support of manufacturing businesses in the five-county bi-state Mid-Columbia region of Oregon and Washington.
Ridgecrest, California – China Lake Technologies— $100,000 to China Lake Technologies, LLC of Ridgecrest, California to develop a strategy to create new jobs in the region in the emerging bio-products industry. This will help diversify the Kern County economy. The strategy will work to build upon the region’s strong aviation, space and military presence, as well as their strength in agriculture.
USDA Grant Recipients
Lewiston, Idaho – Clear Water Economic Development Association – $80,000 of Rural Development funds will be used to create a long-term economic development strategy for a nine-county region in southeast Washington and north-central Idaho that includes more than 40 manufacturing businesses.
Caribou, Maine – Northern Maine Development Commission – $75,000 of Rural Development funds will be used to develop a strategy to attract a European manufacturer of biomass heating appliances to northern Maine.
Worcester, Massachusetts – Massachusetts MEP – $90,000 of Rural Development funds will be used to conduct a three-phase project to research growth opportunities in manufacturing and technology, and to create an economic development plan.
Rapid City, South Dakota – Makoce Waste Development Corporation, Inc. – $98,070 of Rural Development funds will be used to provide business development services for an advanced biofuel refinery on tribal land.
Essex County, Orleans County, and Caledonia County, Vermont – Northern Forest Center – $100,000 of Rural Development funds will be used to provide technical assistance to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of wood product manufacturing businesses in the Northeast Kingdom REAP Zone. The project is expected to assist four companies directly and help up to 130 others by employing best practices. USDA funding is expected to support 150 jobs and create 30 new ones.
Taholah, Washington – Quinault Indian Nation – $85,000 of Rural Development funds will be used to provide business development services for a pellet manufacturing facility on tribal land.
SBA Grants Recipients
Tri-cities Tennessee (Elizabethton, Kingsport, Johnson City) – Hickory Ground Solutions — $167,968.88 to Hickory Ground Solutions to provide an analysis of the manufacturing community which supports the production of coal and tobacco, identify opportunities for companies to realign their capabilities to take advantage of other manufacturing sectors, and deliver matchmaking events with the support of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Central Oklahoma (Calumet, El Reno, Geary, Hinto, Kingfisher, Minco, Okarche, Piedmont, Union City, and Watonga, Oklahoma) – Hickory Ground Solutions — $188,560.88 to Hickory Ground Solutions to study how this event has disrupted the region’s oil and gas manufacturing services community. They will work with the Central Oklahoma Regional Development Organization to launch a series of matchmaking events connecting small businesses to high potential nodes in the wake of the devastating tornado.
Mecklenburg, Halifax and Brunswick Counties, VA (Mecklenburg County, Halifax County, and Brunswick County, Virginia) – Hickory Ground Solutions — In the last decade, South-central Virginia, an area long known for its vibrant manufacturing sector, has experienced a massive offshoring of textile operations and jobs. With an award of $167,241.67, Hickory Ground Solutions will work closely with the Southside Virginia Planning District Commission to identify to new demand and supply pools in which small businesses can integrate into value chains with high growth potential.
Kansas City Central Industrial District (Kansas City, Missouri) – Flynt Group Inc.— $126,442 to Flynt Group Inc. Kansas City, and particularly the Central Industrial District of the city, experienced a mass disruption in 1993 due to the Missouri River’s Great Flood. In 1998, a massive urban fire consumed many of the remaining manufacturing facilities. The area (which has significant intermodal and geographic advantages), is beginning to rebuild, and stakeholders are committed to utilize Flynt’s proposed supply chain analysis and matchmaking services.
Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren, PA – Entreworks Consulting —The manufacturing community in Northwest Pennsylvania provides the most significant source of employment in the area. As is the case with manufacturing jobs across the nation, the ar has experienced a decline since 2001, and a major company recently announced another significant reduction in force. With an award of $115,861, Entreworks will leverage its deep knowledge and partnerships in the area, as well as its significant experience in conducting supply chain analysis, to study the manufacturing community, deliver high potential supply chain maps and matchmaking events to help small businesses reorient their business models.
EPA Area-Wide Planning Grants
Toledo, Ohio – up to $200,000 —Toledo will focus its planning activities on attracting new manufacturing activity to the former Jeep auto plant site.
National City, California – up to $200,000 – The Environmental Health Coalition in National City, California will use its grant to support planning for a new green industrial park in a brownfields area, working in partnership with the local port authority.
Chicago, Illinois – up to $200,000 to North Branch Works/ LEED Council in Chicago, Illinois to create a plan to strengthen local Planned Manufacturing Districts within their brownfields area.
Chattanooga, Tennessee – up to $200,000 to The Enterprise Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee to develop a reuse plan and implementation strategy for the 3rd Street Corridor area of the city, which includes a large industrial brownfield site. The plan will focus on higher education, research, and manufacturing as part of a multi-faceted medical cluster.
Atlanta, Georgia – $175,000 – Atlanta, Georgia has developed an area-wide plan to restore new green and light manufacturing activities to one of the city’s historic blue collar communities, partnering with the Annie E. Casey Foundation as part of the effort.
Monaca, Pennsylvania – $150,000 – Monaca, PA spearheaded planning efforts on riverfront brownfield sites in four small communities along the Ohio River (Midland, Monaca, Aliquippa, and Corapolis), targeting manufacturing opportunities to appropriate sites.
Lowell, Massachusetts – $175,000 – Lowell, MA has developed a plan to transform an antiquated brownfields area into an area that could attract new green industry and, potentially, multimodal transportation facilities.