Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Syracuse University National Veterans Resource Center to announce her bipartisan, bicameral Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022. Based on Gillibrand’s successful Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, this new program incentivizes private-public partnerships by empowering the Secretary of Commerce to designate consortiums as “Manufacturing Communities,” which would be eligible for federal financial and technical assistance designed to expand and support domestic manufacturing. Gillibrand’s bill would help strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base, encourage domestic public-private partnerships, and help local businesses cut through bureaucratic red tape to address ongoing pandemic-related supply chain disruptions that continue plaguing local economies. She was joined by Mayor Ben Walsh, Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) CEO Randy Wolken, CenterState CEO President Robert Simpson, Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud, and Syracuse University Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie.
“It’s going to take hard work and smart federal investments to get supply chains back on track after two years of pandemic-related disruptions,” said Senator Gillibrand. “That’s why I’m introducing the Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022 – legislation that uses current federal resources to invest in public-private partnerships building the next generation of leaders in manufacturing. By taking a community-based approach, we can invest in innovative groups, schools, and businesses, just like the Syracuse University National Veterans Resource Center, and recruit American workers to help rebuild our national supply chain. New York is already a leader in this space, and this long-term investment will empower businesses to create good-paying manufacturing jobs that fit the needs of individual communities right at home in America.”
“The proposed Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022 recognizes that great research universities can be a driving force for innovation and sustainable economic development in our community and beyond,” says Chancellor Syverud. “As the largest private employer in the region, Syracuse University is acutely aware of the significant role it plays in the economic prosperity of Central New York. I appreciate Senate Gillibrand’s leadership in creating legislative solutions that encourage public-private partnerships that have proven successful in the past to address today’s supply chain issues.”
“I’m thrilled that Senator Gillibrand selected Syracuse University’s National Veteran Resource Center (NVRC) as a venue to discuss this important legislation,” says Vice Chancellor Haynie. “The NVRC is certainly symbolic of America’s commitment to U.S. veteran business ownership, given that the University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has provided business ownership training to more than 75,000 veterans over the past decade. Today, the IVMF is playing a nationally important role in post-pandemic economic recovery of America’s veteran-owned business, as partner in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Community Navigator Program. Veteran business owners play a central role in our economy, one that will only be enhanced through efforts to expand U.S.-based manufacturing capability and infrastructure.”
“Central New York is experiencing incredible growth in its high-tech manufacturing sector thanks to the collaborative efforts of leaders across the community,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “Central New York is uniquely positioned to build on its manufacturing legacy and connect its current progress to accelerate growth. We applaud Senator Gillibrand for her vision and sponsorship of the Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022 and for recognizing the opportunity Central New York has to become a leading Manufacturing Community.”
Gillibrand’s Made in America program is a successor to the experimental, Obama-era “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” (IMCP). The Economic Development Administration operated the IMCP between 2014 and 2015 and successfully enrolled 24 locally-organized public-private consortiums. In addition to Commerce assistance, approved Made in America Manufacturing Communities in Gillibrand’s new proposal would have access to technical assistance from other federal agencies, giving them a leg up in accessing a wide array of federal grants. Specifics on Made in America eligibility and investments:
- Eligible consortiums include but are not limited to partnerships between commercial industry, state and local government organizations, and academic or workforce training organizations to convene community stakeholders and set the foundation for long-term investments in manufacturing communities.
- Eligible consortiums can be designated as a Manufacturing Community for a 5-year period, after which they can apply for re-designation for two additional 2-year periods.
- Approved Manufacturing Communities will receive assistance and investments in equipment or facility upgrades; workforce training, retraining, or recruitment and retention; business incubators; advanced research and commercialization; supply chain development; assistance for small business concerns; and strategic planning assistance for consortiums that lack experience applying for federal assistance.
In addition to Senator Gillibrand, the Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022 is supported by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Jerry Moran (R-KS). In the House of Representatives, the bill is supported by Congressmen David Cicilline (D-RI-1) and Peter Meijer (R-MI-3).
The bipartisan bill is endorsed by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition, National Association of Development Organizations, National Association of Counties, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, National Tooling and Machining Association, North American Die Casting Association, Precision Machined Products Association, Precision Metalforming Association, and the National Skills Coalition.
For the full bill text, please click here.
For more information on the bill, please click here.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.
About the National Veterans Resource Center
The National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building is a class-leading exemplar of academic, government and community collaboration. The NVRC functions as the center of veteran life on the campus of Syracuse University, in the local community, and across Central New York. Specifically, the NVRC leverages a public-private sector partnership model to nurture academic research, actionable programming, and collaborative thought leadership positioned to impact veterans and their families on the campus of Syracuse University, in New York State, and in communities across the U.S. Home to the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) and the ROTC, the NVRC houses state-of-the-art vocational and educational programs designed to advance the economic success of the region’s and the nation’s veterans and military families, and also serves as a platform through which to seed, nurture, and coordinate veteran-connected academic research and technology commercialization. To learn more about the NVRC, visit nvrc.syr.edu.