President launches 9th competition for innovation institute

Staff/wire report

YOUNGSTOWN

President Barack Obama unveiled almost $500 million in public-private investment for a manufacturing hub that provides workforce training and technology development, during a visit Wednesday to Cleveland.

More than $150 million of that investment will be used by the Department of Defense to launch a competition for leading manufacturers, universities and nonprofits to form a new manufacturing hub focused on revolutionary fibers and textiles technologies, according to a press release from the Obama administration.

“I applaud President Obama for announcing nearly $500 million in public-private investments to strengthen American manufacturing and for his continued support for building manufacturing innovation institutes across the nation,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, in a news release.

“This initiative follows the success of Youngstown’s AmericaMakes, which was the first pilot institute that laid the groundwork for this program,” Ryan said.

Ryan also said he will offer an amendment to the fiscal year 2016 House Republican Budget to provide $3.2 billion to establish a Scale-Up Manufacturing Initiative and expand the national network of manufacturing institutes.

This is the ninth competition for a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation Institute. The first institute awarded was America Makes in 2012, based in downtown Youngstown, which is in its third year.

“We are excited to have the president visiting Northeast Ohio once again and to hear the announcement of a new Manufacturing Innovation Institute,” said Scott Deutsch, manager of communications and special programs at America Makes. “This showcases the progress being made in the manufacturing sector in our region.”

Additionally, nonprofits in 12 states will compete for the remaining $320 million public-private investments to provide technology and engineering expertise to small manufacturers through the latest round of competitions to strengthen the Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s network of centers in these states.

During his visit, the president also toured the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network in Cleveland.