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San Antonio receives federal designation as manufacturing community

San Antonio receives federal designation as manufacturing community

The Alamo Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) is a collaborative effort of several organizations from industry, academia, and government organized to assist communities that have demonstrated best practices within a specific manufacturing sector to further cultivate an environment to create well-paid manufacturing jobs and targeted industry growth. The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute for Economic Development (IED) is leading the partnership effort, which includes the San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA), Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Bexar County Economic Development Department, City of San Antonio Economic Development Department (SAEDD), City of Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF), Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), the Alamo Colleges, and Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Lean Systems (CAMLS) at UTSA. The AMP coverage area includes the 8-county region of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties.

“The significance of the IMCP designation by the US Department of Commerce is a testament to the economic growth experienced in the south Texas region by the manufacturing sector. The AMP partnership demonstrates that strategic alliances are important tools for economic development,” said Robert McKinley, Senior Associate Vice President for Economic Development at UTSA. “The combination of industry, education, and economic development organizations are valuable assets for the growth of manufacturing sector investment in the Alamo region.”

Six key manufacturing ecosystem elements were identified for investment and further development by AMP: 1) workforce and training, 2) supplier network, 3) research and innovation, 4) infrastructure/site development or redevelopment, 5) trade and international investment, and 6) operational improvement and capital access. AMP is uniquely positioned to focus regional resources, identify priorities, and monitor projects to enhance and bolster the current globally competitive industrial ecosystem to attract and develop manufacturing jobs and investment.
The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) designation recognizes the efforts already in place by area economic development initiatives, and the designation will enhance AMP’s ability to leverage federal assistance to a higher degree by targeting federal investment in key projects throughout the region. The Alamo Manufacturing Partnership is the only Texas based initiative recognized by the US Department of Commerce in its announcement of the twelve designees from throughout the nation. The federal recognition will give area projects an advantage in the review process of federal grant opportunities estimated to be $1 billion from eleven agencies.

“San Antonio is the first city in Texas to achieve this well-deserved national designation,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. “This recognizes past successes and provides tools to advance our strong economy. Expanding our skilled workforce is essential to expanding local manufacturing. This designation should be helpful in accessing federal funds for successful job training programs like the Alamo Academies to assist in filling well-paying manufacturing jobs.”

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