Thank you Tim Ryan - and a shout out to samplegirl!
samplegirl, thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!
And you rock too, Tim Ryan! This is a much needed shot in the arm for our area.
YOUNGSTOWN — A major U.S. Army program, worth $30 million, to use additive manufacturing technologies in its supply chain was awarded to a group from Northeast Ohio and Southwest Pennsylvania with a focus on Youngstown.
The program, called AMNOW, represents a substantial opportunity for economic growth among small- and medium-sized companies in the area, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, said.
Ryan joined others Tuesday to announce the funding at Center Street Technologies, a Youngstown company with the largest additive manufacturing 3D printer in the world.
“What today represents is really a long-term investment into a long-term strategy that has positioned us in the Mahoning Valley,” Ryan said. “This is our future.”
AMNOW is a consortium of several partners including America Makes and the Youngstown Business Incubator, both in Youngstown.
“This is extremely important to the area because we have a great opportunity to grow,” said John Wilczynski, executive director of America Makes.
“It’s a large amount of funding. It is seeding an activity so as this technology is emerging, we’re well-positioned. We have a lot of momentum as a region. We need to keep our foot on the pedal and keep moving. If we’re able to lock ourselves in as a leader in additive manufacturing, we’re going to be set up for the future and that means local manufacturing will develop.”
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With the announced retirement of U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Gary, Ind., Ryan will become the subcommittee’s vice chairman next year if Democrats are able to maintain control of the House.
“This project will give our community the opportunity to enter into the U.S. Army’s advanced manufacturing supply chain — creating opportunity, jobs and investment for our workers and businesses,” Ryan said.
A variety of companies will be evaluated, Ryan said, such as those that sell raw materials as well as software developers.
Mike Garvey, president of Center Street Technologies and M7 Technologies, said: “It’s a huge project that has been awarded to connect the supply chain we have built up here in Northeast Ohio-Southwest Pennsylvania to additive manufacturing for the Department of Defense, specifically Army requirements. We’ll look at opportunities to participate in the supply chain development.”
