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America Makes Welcomes U.S. Secretary of Commerce Pritzker

August 27, 2015 | Categories: America Makes News

Youngstown, Ohio — August 27, 2015. America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, along with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), are pleased to welcome U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to the Institute.

Secretary Pritzker is currently touring several Institutes within the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) infrastructure. The goal of the NNMI is to strengthen the global competitiveness of America’s manufacturing sector and our workforce.

The NNMI currently has six institutes, and three additional institutions under competition, each of which is focused on the development of a different 21st century technology. “The NNMI institutes help spur advanced technologies critical to keeping America innovative and competitive in the global economy,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Communities all over the country are clamoring for them because they represent a dynamic tool for spurring U.S. economic growth. The type of collaborative, cutting-edge technologies that the NNMI promotes is essential to creating high-quality jobs and opportunity here at home.”

In addition to America Makes, the other Institutes to be visited by Secretary Pritzker include the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) in Knoxville, Tenn., and the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) in Chicago.

“On behalf of all of us at America Makes, we are proud to welcome Secretary Pritzker to the Institute,” said Ralph Resnick, America Makes Founding Director. “Her visit this month coincides with the Institute’s third anniversary since our founding. During this
time, America Makes has transitioned from the flagship Institute in the developing NNMI infrastructure to now serving as a trailblazing example of the success that can be accomplished by a public-private partnership and collaborative model.”

Other guests in attendance for Secretary Pritzker’s visit include Jay Williams, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and former Youngstown Mayor; U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13); Michael Molnar, Director, Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office; Jenilee Keefe Singer, Associate Director, Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Commerce; Erin Sparks, Senior Advisor for Manufacturing Policy, Department of Commerce; Sarah Lowry, Northeast Ohio Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH); and Mayor
John McNally, City of Youngstown.

“We are deeply honored to have Secretary Pritzker visit America Makes,” said Ed Morris, America Makes Director. “We are particularly pleased that she will engage in a roundtable discussion with a cross-section of our 146 members to get a first-hand understanding of the impact that America Makes is having as we work together to accelerate the productive use of additive manufacturing in the United States.”

A cross-section of the America Makes membership community will be participating in the roundtable discussion with Secretary Pritzker during her visit. Attending this discussion will be representatives from industry, small enterprise, material suppliers and original equipment providers (OEMs), academia, and non-profit organizations.

Secretary Pritzker represents the Department of Commerce, one of the six agencies in the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) that manages the NNMI program. America Makes is the first Institute within the NNMI infrastructure. America Makes, operated by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), was launched in August 2012 and is managed by the AFRL through the Defense-wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program —OSD, Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy. AFRL on behalf of OSD leads an interagency team composed of the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST), Department of Energy, Department of Education, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation.

Recently, Secretary Pritzker participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the America Makes’ first Satellite Center, located within The University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP’s) renowned W.M. Keck Center for 3-D Innovation.

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About America Makes
America Makes is the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute.
As the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing (3DP), America Makes is the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in AM and 3DP technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation. Structured as a public- private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, non-government agencies, and workforce and economic development resources,
we are working together to innovate and accelerate AM and 3DP to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, America Makes is the flagship Institute for the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) infrastructure of up to 45 Institutes to follow and is driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). For more information about America Makes, visit americamakes.us.

About NCDMM
The NCDMM delivers optimized manufacturing solutions that enhance the quality, affordability, maintainability, and rapid deployment of existing and yet-to-be developed defense systems. This is accomplished through collaboration with government, industry, and academic organizations to promote the implementation of best practices to key stakeholders through the development and delivery of disciplined training, advanced technologies, and methodologies. For additional information, visit the NCDMM at ncdmm.org.

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