The U.S. Commerce Designation named 12 areas of the country to sign up for "Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership," thereby telling prospective investors that these areas are "a fine place to shell out their money."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, who gave the designation and that explanation, said, Pittsburgh and the other territories will be granted federal aid for economic growth in regional manufacturing. More than $1 billion will be available for support.
"We are ensuring that precious federal dollars are used on the most high-impact projects and in a way that maximizes return on investment," Ms. Pritzker detailed in the pronouncement from Washington, D.C.
The designation makes available any dollars in the form of subsidy in the future.
Officials project the result will have 14,000 new qualified jobs in metal manufacturing in the next 10 years and a 2 percent annual increase target.
Bob Stein, director of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh said "We anticipate adding 8,000 with existing firms, attracting 100 new companies that will bring in 4,000 new, and then help 200 start-up companies adding another 2,000 new jobs there." Stein was involved in putting together the implementation for the federal designation.
Each of the 12 regions cited by the U.S. Commerce Designation has a manufacturing skill.
Pittsburgh's petition, presented by Catalyst Connection, a firm based in Oakland, had 75 other partners and 15 co-applicants. Petra Mitchell, president and CEO of Catalyst Connection said, "In Pittsburgh, manufacturing is both part of our history and our future. With IMCP support, we will remind the world that Greater Pittsburgh makes metals, and metals make American manufacturing."
Meanwhile, in Memphis, The Made in the Mid-South Manufacturing Alliance spearheaded by the Greater Memphis Chamber submitted its proposal to specifically increase medical device manufacturing. The alliance includes the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, University of Memphis and Memphis Medical Device Council of the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce, as told by The Daily News.
"We have seen major investment by manufacturing companies who are choosing Memphis because of our workforce capabilities and world-class assets such as our high-quality, low-cost water and competitive infrastructure," Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO Phil Trenary commented in a written statement Wednesday.
"Attracting more manufacturing investment to Memphis is a top priority for the chamber," Phil added.
In Minnesota, News 12 detailed that the region of Minnesota is also known as the Minnesota Medical Manufacturing Partnership; the agenda highlights Minnesota's status which is one of the world's vast medical device group.
The US Commerce Designation selected communities are located in California, Idaho, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Utah, Texas, Wisconsin and Washington.
