Manchin Announces Significant Support for WV to Revitalize Manufacturing Industry
The Greater Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturing Community has been designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Manufacturing Community
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that the Greater Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturing Community (GPMMC), which includes the entire West Virginia Northern Panhandle and North Central West Virginia region, has been designated as a Manufacturing Community by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative. The initiative aims to accelerate the revival of manufacturing in communities by supporting the development of long-term economic development strategies that will strengthen their competitive edge and attract investments.
“West Virginians are the hardest-working in the nation, and I’m proud that we get an opportunity to showcase our talented workforce with this designation,” Senator Manchin said. “I applaud the Department of Commerce for recognizing that this is a good place to invest and for making this important designation. Thanks to this partnership, our communities will have the ability to leverage its strengths in order to create good-paying manufacturing jobs and spur economic growth. This is wonderful news for West Virginians.”
In March, Senator Manchin sent a letter to The U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker urging the agency to designate the GPMMC as a Manufacturing Community. To read the letter, please click here.
The GPMMC partnership will facilitate the development of common curriculum for middle skilled occupations as the foundation for new training programs, promote awareness of employment opportunities among students and parents so that more young people strongly consider careers in manufacturing, ensure that underrepresented and disadvantaged populations and veterans have strong connections to employment opportunities, and expand apprenticeships, internships, and community college offerings for high-skilled, high-wage metal sector jobs through university and college partnerships.
To read more details on the GPMMC’s long-term economic development strategies, please click here.
The GPMMC is one of twelve newly designated Manufacturing Communities. They were selected based on the strength of their economic development plans, the potential for impact in their communities, and the depths of their partnerships across the public and private sectors to carry out their plans. The support they receive will come from the following federal agencies:
- Appalachian Regional Commission
- Delta Regional Authority
- Environmental Protection Agency
- National Science Foundation
- Small Business Administration
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Transportation
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