NCPA LaunchBox celebrates a year of innovation and industry growth

DuBOIS, Pa. - With the 2023-24 academic year now closed, the North Central Pennsylvania (NCPA) LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois, marked a year of significant achievements in fostering regional industry growth and workforce development. A key highlight of the year is the LaunchBox's pivotal role in the North Central Pressed Materials Strategy Development Consortium, an initiative aimed at advancing the pressed material industry in Central Pennsylvania.

The Consortium, based in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, recently received a major boost through the Biden-Harris administration's Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). This grant will be instrumental in developing a strategic roadmap to diversify the production of pressed materials and machined parts, with a focus on emerging applications such as electric vehicle production.

Led by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, the Consortium will leverage this grant to enhance local coordination and planning activities, bolstering the region's capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technologies critical to U.S. economic and national security. The Consortium was selected from a competitive pool of 181 applicants, highlighting its potential to transform Central Pennsylvania into a globally competitive innovation center.

"President Biden's Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st-century job opportunities in people's backyards," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

In addition to the Consortium's efforts, Regional Innovation Officer Johnny Williams, engineering technologist at the LaunchBox, and his team have been actively engaging with industry partners, exploring new partnership opportunities, and working to expand the Consortium's influence. Notably, John Brennan of Penn State DuBois and Amy Kessler of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, represented the Consortium at PowderMET 2024 in Pittsburgh. Their participation was aimed at gaining valuable industry insights from numerous experts.

The Consortium also recently released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a consultant to gather crucial industry data. This data will be essential for identifying the needs of the pressed material industry and determining the resources required to meet those needs.

Parallel to these industry-focused initiatives, the LaunchBox launched the Industry 4.0 Academy, a new program designed to equip high school students with the skills necessary to thrive in a technologically advanced workforce. The Academy offers nine-week programs in additive manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity, and automation, providing hands-on, industry-relevant training. The program is working through its pilot year with students from DuBois Area High School and will be looking to expand to other area school districts in the future.

The Industry 4.0 Academy prepares students for further education and positions them to enter the workforce directly, ready to contribute to local manufacturing sectors that increasingly rely on technology-savvy workers. This program underscores the LaunchBox's commitment to fostering a skilled workforce that meets the evolving demands of the region's industries.

As the year ends, the North Central Pennsylvania LaunchBox looks ahead to 2025 with a renewed focus on innovation, collaboration, and community engagement, continuing its mission to drive economic growth and opportunity across the region.

To learn more about the LaunchBox, visit their website.