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Coalition Helps Bring Innovation Key to Industry Success

Published: November 14, 2007
Norm Eder, (503) 802-4101
Conkling Fiskum & McCormick
Portland, OR

The Manufacturing 21 Coalition (MFG 21) has helped steer another $1 million to fund research and development projects supporting the industry.

Congress approved the $1 million earmark last week in the FY08 Defense Appropriations bill for MFG 21 as part of the Northwest Manufacturing Initiative. President Bush signed the bill November 13. The R&D allocation will enhance the reliability, cost effectiveness and environmental performance of products designed for the defense marketplace.

The bill has passed both the House and the Senate. In the Congress we had support from Representatives Baird, Blumenauer, DeFazio, Hooley and Wu and Senators Patty Murray, Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden. They were all instrumental in securing these funds.

MFG 21 will use the funds in Oregon and Southwest Washington to foster university-industry technology collaborations and to improve the skills of workers employed by companies developing products for the defense department.

This new money is on top of the $2.5 million secured by MFG 21 and Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition last year for investments in applied research, workforce training and a collective approach to supporting the needs of the military.

Oregon’s Innovation Council contributes to the success of manufacturing in Oregon

Oregon InC made the needs of manufacturing a centerpiece of Oregon’s Innovation Roadmap. It then led the successful efforts during the 2007 legislative session to target nearly $3 million to the needs of our industry. These new funds will be invested into new faculty, research and equipment at Portland State University and to grow the Oregon Metals Initiative’s matching grant program.

MFG 21’s innovation committee, chaired by Gary Gaussoin, CEO, Silver Eagle Manufacturing – will provide counsel and oversight for the expenditure of the funds, as well as participation as voting members of new faculty selection committees.

We are only at the beginning of our industry’s new relationship with higher education. Gary and his committee are working hard to expand the MFG 21 innovation portfolio and the number of partner institutions that will receive investments in the future.

Manufacturing 21 joins with Worksystems, Inc. (WSI) to target resources to industry training needs

Andrew McGough, WSI’s Executive Director, approached Norm Eder, MFG 21’s Executive Director, with a proposition Norm and our board could not refuse. WSI agreed to place up to $1.8 million under industry’s control. MFG 21 investors, along with other industry sectors, are determining how and where training funds will be spent.

A task force of 15 companies, chaired by Terry Smith of PCC Structurals, is overseeing federal training funds for WSI.

Road Trip program expands with new grant to PCC and MHCC

More than a year ago MFG 21 worked with Clackamas Community College and Clackamas County’s Business Development and Economic Team to sponsor the first Manufacturing Road Trip. This pioneering effort introduces K-12 teachers and students to the benefits of careers with manufacturing companies. The Clackamas County innovation soon spread to the rest of the Portland metro area because Portland Community College partnered with Mt. Hood Community College to win a grant from the state to expand the program in 2008. Manufacturing 21 helped unite the two institutions and supported their proposal.

Partnership with PDC Continues

MFG 21’s long-time investor, Portland Development Commission (PDC), continues to commit time, energy and resources to support the coalition. MFG 21 and PDC staff are linking economic development activities across the region to assist manufacturing companies and, in particular, to build the foundations needed to realize one of the coalition’s primary goals – a Center for Manufacturing and Infrastructure Engineering.

Manufacturing 21 and PDC sponsored a November 14 breakfast featuring State Representative Brad Witt. Rep. Witt is chair of the House Workforce and Economic Development Committee and will discuss his committee’s work during the 2007 legislative session and his plans for the 2009 session.

And please register for the Oregon Business Plan 2007 summit on December 3. Manufacturing should be well represented.

You may resister by going to: www.oregonleadershipsummit.org

You can find out more about the Coalition’s work by visiting our Web site at www.manufacturing21.com.

The State of Oregon has launched an information Web site to support manufacturing. Visit this at www.oregonmanufacturing.net.

Fourth Annual NW Youth Careers Expo Coming

It's time to gear up for the NW Careers Expo. The Expo attracts over 4,000 high school students from across the metro area and exposes them to careers in the skilled trades and more.
This year the Expo will be held on May 8, 2008 at the Oregon Convention Center. You can get involved as a sponsor or volunteer by calling Drew Park at (971) 404-2472.

For more information, visit www.nwyouthcareersexpo.org.