USDA Grant Spawns New Technology Centers
The centers will be housed at the EDC headquarters.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFederal funds will support the launch of a new manufacturing technology-focused effort in northeast Indiana. The Whitley County Economic Development Corp. has received $60,000 in grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create the EDC WorkShop to house the Knowledge Center and Commercialization Center in Columbia City.
The initiative will offer coaching, mentoring and regulatory expertise in fields including digital design and manufacturing, additive manufacturing and lightweight/modern metals. It will deal with industries such as medical devices, aerospace, defense and agriculture.
The Knowledge Center will focus on new technologies and resources by connecting clients with regional and state partners. The Commercialization Center will help push discoveries to market.
EDC Small Business and Entrepreneurship Program Manager Bruce Stach says "we are specifically targeting these areas to help local manufacturers improve their competitiveness in existing technologies, and to assist companies in expanding their capabilities. It’s critical that
companies keep up with the latest technologies and continue adapting their processes to compete in the global marketplace."
The organization says the effort will help businesses stay globally competitive.
The EDC says the WorkShop will partner with others including the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute, the Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Indiana Small Business Development Center.