$1.3 Billion Available to Help Communities Advance Manufacturing

The following is a release from the U.S. Office of the Federal Register:

Indiana is a manufacturing state. Now, there is federal assistance available to communities to support economic development strategies to expand manufacturing.

The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) is a federal initiative designed to cultivate an environment for businesses to create well-paying manufacturing jobs in regions across the country, thereby accelerating the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing. IMCP rewards communities that employ best practices to attract and expand manufacturing through planning their economic development in concert with local government, business, universities, and other stakeholders. Such efforts also build on local assets and align investments to local industry needs, such as capital, workforce education, infrastructure and research.

To date, IMCP has awarded 44 communities a total of $7 million to support the creation of economic development strategies. In the newly opened second phase, communities will be able to compete for some $1.3 billion in federal dollars, and assistance from 10 cabinet departments and agencies. In addition, communities will have access to a playbook of federal economic development resources and a new data tool for assessing their manufacturing strengths. An announcement of the competition was released in December as were a Federal Register Notice, resource playbook, and data tools. Please note that, while the announcement indicates a March 14, 2014 deadline for applications, that deadline is no longer accurate and is in the process of being revised.

Learn more online.

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