Administration

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Board of Trustees today (Sept. 18) approved the final plans for construction of the Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness at Penn State Behrend, advancing a project that will strengthen the Erie region’s metal-casting industry, expand workforce training and provide access to specialized manufacturing equipment and expertise.

The 31,300-square-foot facility will be built in Knowledge Park. It will include advanced metal-casting labs, industry-facing manufacturing space and areas designed for workforce training, applied research and industry collaboration.

The project builds on Behrend’s Open Lab model of learning, which gives companies access to student talent, faculty expertise, and research space and instrumentation while creating opportunities for students to work on real industry challenges.

“Industry engagement has long been a hallmark of Behrend’s land-grant mission,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “The Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness expands that commitment, creating new ways to connect our students and faculty with industry partners who are adapting to rapidly evolving markets.”

The board authorized the $19.2 million project, which combines funding from federal, state, county, local, University and private-sector partners. Construction is expected to begin this fall and should be completed by November 2027.

The Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness is part of Behrend’s Project RESOLVE. The design for the building increases research capacity in metal-casting and will directly support the domestic casting and forging industries, including shipbuilding, while developing a skilled workforce that supports national manufacturing needs.

Behrend has begun to address those needs through a $4.4 million partnership with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation and the U.S. Department of Defense.Through the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship and Learning program and the America’s Cutting Edge program, the college now provides free online instruction and in-person bootcamp training in metal-casting, forging, machining and related manufacturing skills.

“When we sought public and private support for this project, we made some very specific commitments,” said Amy Bridger, assistant dean for innovation and corporate strategy at Behrend. “We said we would attract companies, build the region’s manufacturing workforce and use early investments as a catalyst for additional support. We have done all of that.

“KYOCERA AVX, Truck-Lite and other companies have invested in and moved to Knowledge Park,” Bridger said. “Our partnership with IACMI is bringing free, hands-on metal-casting and manufacturing training to the region. And the initial investments made by Erie County and other partners have helped us leverage significant additional support from Penn State, the Commonwealthand federal sources. The Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness is the next step in delivering on those commitments.”