WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Midcoast Regional Innovation Initiative, led by Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority and Coastal Counties Workforce, Inc., is one of 11 nationwide winners of the Make it in America Challenge and will receive two federal grants totaling $2,050,000. The grant funding is allocated as follows:

• $750,000 to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority from the Economic Development Administration to support the renovation and repurposing of Building 250 at the Brunswick Landing to establish TechPlace – an advanced manufacturing accelerator. When complete, TechPlace will provide office, shop, laboratory, and workspace for aerospace, aviation, advanced materials, renewable energy and biotechnology manufacturing. The project is expected to create nearly 300 jobs in the area.

• $1.3 million to Coastal Counties Workforce, Inc. from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to reduce dependency on H-1B visas in four targeted manufacturing sectors, provide customized skills training leading to industry-recognized credentials for incumbent workers, and increase access to career pathways for unemployed workers through a “co-op” education experience with a credential-based training model

“The Midcoast Regional Innovation Initiative will strengthen existing regional assets, train and create highly skilled jobs, and stimulate economic opportunity in the Midcoast area,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding will provide an important catalyst for innovation, build upon the ongoing economic redevelopment efforts in the area, and provide critical support for growing regional manufacturing sectors in composites, aviation and aerospace, alternative energy and biotechnology.”

The Midcoast Regional Innovation Initiative is one of 11 nationwide grants winners of the Make it in America Challenge, a national competition that seeks to encourage foreign and domestic businesses to build and/or expand their operations in the United States. The goal of this competition is to encourage re-shoring, foster increased foreign direct investment, incentivize U.S. companies to keep or expand their businesses – and jobs – here at home, and train local workers to meet the needs of those businesses.

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