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NAMII Officially Opens for Business

October 04, 2012 | Categories: America Makes News

Youngstown,Ohio— October 4, 2012. NAMII, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, awarded on August 16, 2012, and driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), held its open house and official ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday at the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) Annex, 236 Boardman Street, Youngstown, OH 44503 to an outpouring of industry and community support from a crowd of more than 200 in attendance. “NAMII’s opening ceremony was a resounding success. The implications of NAMII’s award and opening in this time and place are enormously significant and far reaching not only for the additive manufacturing sector and the manufacturing industry as a whole, but also for the community of Youngstown, the Tech Belt region of the Eastern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia, and our nation,” said Ralph Resnick, NCDMM President and Executive Director and Acting Director for NAMII. “It is a game changer. With NAMII leading and fostering an unprecedented level of industry collaboration, the additive manufacturing sector is poised to revolutionize theU.S.manufacturing industry. “Additive manufacturing technology has the capability to dramatically transform the way we make things,” Resnick continued. “Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that subtract material to make parts, additive manufacturing essentially grows parts. We are on the cusp growing theU.S.manufacturing industry into a dominant economic force and it started right here inYoungstownwith the official opening of NAMII.” In her opening remarks at the ceremony, Barb Ewing, YBI Chief Operating Officer, echoed this sentiment, saying “At its most fundamental level, the goal of this program is to restore American manufacturing to its predominant position in the world’s economy and to rebuild our industrial base and create quality jobs for our future.” Ms. Ewing emceed the open house and ribbon-cutting event and in addition to Mr. Resnick, speakers at the NAMII opening included U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (OH-17); U.S. Representative Jason Altmire (PA-4); and T. Sharon Woodberry, City ofYoungstown Economic Development Director. Also in attendance to represent NAMII member, Youngstown State University (YSU), and participate in the ribbon cutting was Dr. Cynthia Anderson, President of YSU. Congressmen Ryan and Altmire were the co-founders of the Cleveland to Pittsburgh Tech Belt Initiative. Congressman Ryan also secured funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for NAMII. Ms. Woodberry worked tirelessly with YBI and NAMII on behalf of the City o fYoungstown and Youngstown City Council to secure community support to bring NAMII to the city and funding for building renovations. Additional funding for the renovations was provided through a collaboration between YSU and Ohio Department of Administrative Services, as well as the Youngstown Foundation. Now that NAMII is open for business, it is holding its inaugural all-hands meeting for NAMII members only next Thursday, October 10, 2012, at the Ford Family Recital Hall at the Eleanor Beecher Flad Pavilion in downtownYoungstown,Ohio. “We look forward to the all-hands meeting and are very excited to get down to business and build on the positive momentum of the open house event,” said Mr. Resnick.

About NAMII NAMII is a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, and workforce development resources all collaborating with a singular, shared vision to transition additive manufacturing technology to the mainstream U.S. manufacturing sector. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, NAMII is the pilot institute for the newly established National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). NAMII is managed by the NationalCenterfor Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). For additional information, visit www.namii.org.

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 www.ncdmm.org.

About YBI The Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) is partially funded through the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Edison Incubator Program and through the Ohio Third Frontier Program’s Entrepreneurial Signature Program. Through the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network, YBI provides start-up assistance throughout the 21 counties of northeast Ohio. For additional information, visit the YBI at www.ybi.org.

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