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ARISE Grants Will Boost Sustainable Manufacturing in Southwest Pennsylvania & Appalachia

By November 20, 2023November 27th, 2023No Comments

November 20, 2023

In late 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to provide historic investments in revitalizing and  Among the historic investments afforded by the IIJA the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) launched the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE), aiming to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation across Appalachia, to support the development and modernization of Appalachian business, industry, and opportunity.

Among the many investments made in the multi-state collaboration, ARC has awarded a grant of $10 million to Catalyst Connection, a not-for-profit organization that provides consulting and training services that help small manufacturers in the 12-county southwestern Pennsylvania region accelerate revenue growth and improve productivity.


So What Will The Grant Be Used For?

The grant awarded to Catalyst Connection will allow us to better provide manufacturers with the necessary resources and guidance to excel in the supply chains for renewable energy, low-carbon and decarbonized power, smart grid enhancements, electric vehicles, and green building manufacturing. The funding will support training, technical assistance, supply chain mapping, and advice on facility upgrades, making it easier for Southwestern PA businesses to tap into the emerging green technology and clean energy markets. 

And the benefits don’t stop in Pennsylvania, because the grant will provide Catalyst Connection with the support necessary to help over 1,000 small- to medium-sized manufacturers with expanding or entering the green technology sector across 156 counties in 5 Appalachian states, including Maryland, Ohio, New York, and West Virginia.

This grant allows us to bolster the investments we are helping manufacturers make in physical and human capital to usher in a new era of energy development that puts the economic future of our region squarely on the shoulders of manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the Appalachian Region.

As we continue our pursuit of a sustainable 21st century Appalachia, projects like these are exactly how we achieve this vision. We owe it to the millions across the region who deserve to live a future that allows Appalachian businesses to thrive, workers to diversify or hone their skill sets to earn good-paying jobs, and bring manufacturing back stronger than ever. ARISE is how we get there.