U.S. Commerce Department Names Next 12 Manufacturing Communities

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the designation of 12 new communities as part of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative. This second round of manufacturing communities was selected by an interagency panel to receive targeted support from 11 different federal agencies and programs. The IMCP initiative is intended to accelerate U.S. manufacturing by investing in partnerships and long-term economic development strategies in key regions. More than $1 billion in federal assistance will be available to the 12 designated communities.

IMCP is designed to foster regional partnerships around particular manufacturing sectors in which the regions have a competitive advantage. In order to apply, these partnerships must have a strategic plan that addresses workforce and supply chain challenges, infrastructure, research and innovation, capital access, and operational improvement for manufacturing companies. The first twelve manufacturing communities were named last May, and received a dedicated federal liaison at each of the participating agencies to help them navigate federal resources.

The second round of designees includes:

• The Greater Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturing Community, led by Catalyst Connection in Pittsburgh, PA;
• The Alamo Manufacturing Partnership, led by the University of Texas at San Antonio in the San Antonio, TX, metro area;
• The Louisiana Chemical Corridor, led by Louisiana State University, stretching from New Orleans, LA, to Baton Rouge, LA;
• The Madison Regional Economic Partnership (MadREP) in the Madison, WI, region;
• The Made in the Mid-South Manufacturing Alliance, led by the Greater Memphis Chamber spanning nine counties in surrounding Memphis, TN;
• The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council leading a five-county region in central Illinois;
• The Minnesota Medical Manufacturing Partnership, led by GREATER MSP in Minneapolis, MN;
• The South Central Idaho region, led by the Region IV Development Association in Twin Falls, ID;
• The Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative, led by the University of Utah in the Wasatch Front region;
• The Pacific Northwest Partnership Region, led by Business Oregon in Oregon and Southwest Washington;
• The Connecticut Advanced Manufacturing Communities Region, a four-county area centered on Hartford, Connecticut, is led by the state of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; and,
• The Central Valley AgPlus Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium led by California State University in Fresno and the Sacramento Community.

Read the announcement at: http://www.eda.gov/news/press-releases/2015/07/08/imcp.htm