Press Releases

Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal joined Western New England University (WNE) President Dr. Robert E. Johnson, Western New England University Dean of the College of Engineering Dr. S. Hossein Cheraghi, students, faculty, and staff to announce an $850,000 earmark for the establishment of WNE’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (CAMS).

The allocation was made possible through Congressionally Direct Spending (CDS) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Congressman Neal included funding for this project in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bill that was signed into law by President Biden on March 9, 2024. This funding will allow WNE to establish CAMS which will serve as a hub for industry-university collaboration, focusing on training and retraining a workforce in advanced manufacturing techniques.

“In an ever-changing society fueled by innovation and technological developments, the importance of workforce development cannot be understated. As a result, higher education has come to play a prominent role in training the next generation of workers. That is why I was proud to fight for Western New England University to secure funding that will benefit their students for years to come,” said Congressman Neal. “As one of the top engineering programs in the nation, WNE continues to invest in programs that will lead to immediate job placement upon graduation. This funding will play a critical role in ensuring their students are equipped with the skills needed to meet the demands of our region’s workforce, stimulating economic growth and opportunities.”

Contributing $2.8 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2023, the manufacturing sector accounts for nearly 12% of the U.S. economy, more than half of which is attributed to advanced manufacturing. Once a manufacturing hub in the northeast, Springfield has witnessed a steady decline in its manufacturing workforce since the early 2000s. This project will help address that decline by revitalizing the sector through partnerships with local companies, public schools, and other higher education institutions to provide workforce training, internships, and research opportunities.

"We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Neal for his steadfast support and leadership in securing this $850,000 earmark for Western New England University to establish the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (CAMS) within our College of Engineering,” said President Johnson. “With updated facilities and tools, we will enhance our educational experience for students, ensuring that future graduates are equipped to meet the immediate needs of our industry partners. Western New England University remains committed to preparing our students for the future of work and this funding will allow us to stay at the forefront of innovation."

Funding for CAMS will allow WNE to launch new academic programs and certifications in advanced manufacturing while continuing to foster partnerships with local manufacturers to drive technology adoption and innovation, including Advance Welding, Nitor Corporation, American Steel and Aluminum Corporation, and Mestek, Inc. These partnerships will support WNE’s goals of establishing CAMS, including:

• Providing 20 MA companies with access to a state-of-the-art incubator and training laboratory for workforce training on advanced welding and product characterization and prototyping;
• Incubating two Springfield, MA startup companies a year working with advanced manufacturing techniques and equipment;
• Educating the current and future workforce in the use of cutting-edge manufacturing equipment, and improving manufacturing processes through four industry-focused workshops a year; and
• Providing 200 K-12 students an experiential opportunity at the Center around advanced manufacturing processes each year.

Under guidelines issued by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, members of Congress requested CDS funding for projects in their state for Fiscal Year 2024. CDS requests were restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments, and eligible non-profit entities, were permitted to receive CDS funding.

This project is one of thirteen CDS projects submitted by Congressman Neal, totaling nearly $15 million in investments throughout the First Congressional District of Massachusetts.

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