PHILADELPHIA PARTNERSHIP RECEIVES GRANT FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ACCELERATOR

by PIDCphila
January 10, 2013

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This past October, a Philadelphia-based partnership led by the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) with participation and support from PIDC was successfully awarded a $1,892,000 grant from the federal government for the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator focused on transportation equipment.  The Advanced Manufacturing Jobs & Innovation Accelerator Challenge is a national competition sponsored by the Obama Administration to support manufacturing activities; help grow industry clusters by strengthening connections to regional economic development opportunities; enhance a region’s capacity to create high-quality sustainable jobs in manufacturing; develop a skilled advanced manufacturing workforce; encourage development of small businesses; and accelerate technological innovation.  The Philadelphia partnership was one of 10 selected nationally through this program after a competitive, multi-agency grant process that began in May, 2012.

Using the investment from the Economic Development Administration and the collective experience and market knowledge of industry partners, the Greater Philadelphia Manufacturing Innovation and Skills Accelerator will enhance and grow the City’s transportation equipment manufacturing cluster by providing focused, technical assistance to companies in the transportation equipment sector to incorporate advanced manufacturing processes, improve networking opportunities, and facilitate market expansion.   The Accelerator’s activities will be located in Philadelphia at The Navy Yard.

“This investment will help accelerate and unleash the most promising ideas in advanced manufacturing, and bring those ideas to market.   This will lead to good jobs for American workers, increase the nation’s competitiveness, and strengthen an economy that’s built to last,” said Rebecca Blank, Acting US Secretary of Commerce.

Philadelphia has a long and prominent history with manufacturing transportation equipment, with firms such as William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding and The Budd Company having pioneered innovation in the transportation sector while operating their manufacturing operations in the City.  Today, Philadelphia is home to a number of industry leaders in transportation equipment such as Aker (commercial vessels), AgustaWestland (helicopters), and Hyundai Rotem (commuter railcars).   

For more information on the Accelerator Challenge and other federal opportunities in manufacturing, please visit:  www.manufacturing.gov

For more information on how PIDC may be able to assist your manufacturing company, please contact Mike Cooper at 215.496.8183 or .

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