Catalyst Connection Receives DOD funding to Strengthen the Defense Supply Chain
For Immediate Release — September 24, 2020
Catalyst Connection Receives DOD funding to Strengthen the Defense Supply Chain in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia
Pittsburgh,
PA – The U.S. Department of Defense has formally designated a consortium of
southwestern Pennsylvania’s defense industry members, led by Catalyst
Connection, as a Defense Manufacturing Community. This comes after the
announcement that the Department would award a total of six grants totaling $25
million under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program by the Office
of Economic Adjustment.
After participating in a competitive selection process, Catalyst Connection has
officially been awarded one of the six grants and will receive $5 million
toward the Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (AIM) Defense Industry
Consortium. The project aims to strengthen defense manufacturing capabilities
through an industrial production ecosystem that melds advanced metals and
materials with artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, and robotics. A
total of 30 manufacturing organizations across Pennsylvania and West
Virginia will be involved in the Artificial Intelligence in Metals and
Manufacturing Consortium. These groups will continue to build on existing
manufacturing collaborations in order to upskill the regional workforce, spur
innovation, and familiarize manufacturers with new technologies.
“Our region has tremendous capabilities to support the defense industrial
base, from our research assets, our progressive small and medium-sized
manufacturers, and a highly skilled and motivated workforce, just to name a
few. This funding will enable us to boost the connections, grow our local
defense supply chain, and contribute to national defense priorities.”
The members of the AIM Consortium are from 30 leading organizations at the
cutting edge of defense technologies and manufacturing. The group will build
upon its partnership network to boost the regional and national defense
industries sector to support meaningful outcomes in several ways over the
five-year project period. The strategy includes: establishing anchor sites for
defense manufacturing collaboration and assistance, conducting a research and
innovation alliance, filling gaps and boosting connections in the defense
industries supply chain, enhancing and integrating workforce training and
education, providing technical assistance and support to small defense industry
manufacturers, and building the defense manufacturing ecosystem with convenings
and communications.
As an economic development organization dedicated to southwestern
Pennsylvania’s small and mid-sized manufacturers, Catalyst Connection has
provided resources, support, and strategic partnership for more than 30 years
through consulting and training services that accelerate revenue growth and
improve productivity.
To learn more about the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, visit
www.oea.gov. To learn about the regional defense manufacturing designation or
the AIM Consortium, please contact Catalyst Connection President & CEO,
Petra Mitchell at pmitchell@catalystconnection.org.
For
more information about Catalyst Connection, visit www.catalystconnection.org.
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DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited
Media Contact: Allison Moux
Phone: 412.918.4252
Email: amoux@catalystconnection.org