FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            PRESS CONTACT:

   May 29, 2014                                                                   Brenda Lopez   956.544.8352

PRESS RELEASE: Congressman Vela Proposes Southern Border Manufacturing Innovation Institute through White House Initiative

Washington, D.C. — Recently, Congressman Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville) proposed establishing a manufacturing innovation institute along the southern border.  Last May, President Obama launched a competition for three manufacturing innovation institutes, which were subsequently awarded to consortiums headquartered in Raleigh, Detroit, and Chicago. 

President Obama recently announced a competition for four additional institutes that will boost advanced manufacturing in the United States while creating high-quality jobs.  Each institute serves as a regional hub, bridging the gap between applied research and product development by bringing together companies, universities, and federal agencies to co-invest in key technology areas that encourage investment and production in the U.S.  This type of “teaching factory” provides a unique opportunity for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while sharing assets to help companies, including small manufacturers, access cutting-edge capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes.

Previously announced manufacturing innovation institutes have focused on electronics manufacturing, lightweight metals manufacturing, digital manufacturing and design technologies.  Each has included an award of $70 million in federal monies combined with matching funds from private sources.

"Given the large pool of labor that exists along our southern border and our robust trade relationship with Mexico, I proposed to President Obama that a manufacturing innovation institute be established with components spread along our southern border to develop cutting-edge technology, train workers to use that technology, and promote cross-border trade,” said Congressman Filemon Vela.  “This provides the opportunity to form partnerships with multiple universities such as The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M International University-Laredo, Sul Ross State University, The University of Texas at El Paso, New Mexico State University, The University of Arizona, and San Diego State University."

Attached is Congressman Vela’s letter to President Obama and the White House announcements selecting Raleigh, Detroit, and Chicago to house manufacturing innovation institutes.

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