NEWARK EXCITED ABOUT OPPORTUNITY TO LINK MANUFACTURING, EDUCATION
By Joshua Burd/NJBIZ
May 29, 2012
Business groups, government agencies and other organizations in New Jersey can apply for federal funding under a new $26 million program that aims to build clusters in advanced manufacturing industries.
The funding program was announced today as part of an effort to “foster innovation-fueled job creation through public-private partnerships” across the country, according to a news release from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Under the program, applicants can receive grants if they demonstrate a plan to grow a regional industry cluster, in part by building ties between “local economic development opportunities and advanced manufacturing assets.”
Such a program would likely resonate in New Jersey, where state officials have sought to promote clustering of industries, including manufacturing, as part of a new statewide strategic plan for economic development. The idea has been embraced by business leaders in some of the state’s key development regions.
