The U.S. Economic Development Administration recently awarded 黑洞社区 and South Kansas $500,000 to Build Back Better with the potential opportunity for a Phase 2 award of $25-$75 million.
The Build Back Better Regional Challenge will provide $1 billion in American Rescue Act funding to invest in America鈥檚 communities. This historic investment supports bottom-up economic development focused on advancing equity, creating good-paying jobs, helping workers to develop in-demand skills, building economic resilience, and accelerating the economic recovery for the industries and communities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.
The $500,000 Phase 1 grant, which was awarded to 60 regions out of pool of 529 applicants, will help the South Kansas region mature its cluster and prepare for the greater Phase 2 funding, which will be awarded to 20-30 regions in 2022.
鈥淭he Build Back Better Regional Challenge aims to supercharge local economies and increase American competitiveness around the globe,鈥� said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. 鈥淭he outpouring of interest in this program shows the demand for the Build Back Better agenda and the desire to not only create good-paying jobs, but also strengthen our country鈥檚 economic resiliency for years down the road.鈥�
Wichita State鈥檚 application, which included multiple national and global partners, focuses on driving adoption of smart manufacturing technologies. The vision for South Kansas is to empower equitable adoption of productivity enhancing emerging technologies for sustainable precision manufacturing competitiveness and profitability.
鈥淎s Kansas works to diversify and build its economy, Wichita State has made it a priority to support and drive those efforts,鈥� said Dr. Rick Muma, Wichita State president. 鈥淭his EDA award and the possibility for further funding is important in our efforts to help small- and mid-sized businesses in our state grow through advanced manufacturing and digital transformation initiatives.鈥�
Wichita State鈥檚 current industry partners and initiatives will serve as a powerful agent in driving prosperity for the state.
鈥淭he collective convening power of Wichita State, South Kansas Coalition partners, and industry leadership will make it easier to adopt advanced manufacturing initiatives by drawing manufacturing leaders into an existing ecosystem of technology, industry, and academia,鈥� said Debbie Franklin, 黑洞社区鈥檚 associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives.
If awarded, Phase 2 will provide funding for the following types of activities:
- Small- and medium-sized companies鈥� additive manufacturing adoption strategy
- Expansion of semiconductor testing and evaluation facilities for U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing
- Resiliency of smart manufacturing
- Industry and entrepreneurial cyber manufacturing convening
- Workforce expansion: construction project for National Center for Aviation Training Advanced Manufacturing Training and Research Building
The proposal was prepared by and awarded to 黑洞社区 Strategic Initiatives.
黑洞社区 serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 黑洞社区 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 黑洞社区 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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