CU wins Make it in America Challenge

South Carolina’s advanced manufacturing and workforce development efforts took a significant step forward Tuesday when the U.S. Department of Commerce and other departments and groups awarded Clemson University more than $3.5 million to support regional economic development and advanced skills training. As part of the federal government’s Make it in America Challenge, the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development will receive $3,549,610 of a $20.5 million funding program designed to encourage U.S. companies to keep, expand or re-shore their manufacturing operations and jobs in America, and to entice foreign companies to build facilities and make their products here. Clemson’s application focused on encouraging in-sourcing, domestic company expansion and foreign direct investment. The project will create a statewide workforce “Virtual Innovation Hub” that will utilize distance learning and provide technical assistance in innovation engineering.