CCAC and ARM Institute Announce Funding for CCAC Makerspace
A new CCAC makerspace, to be located at West Hills Center, will provide regional manufacturers and entrepreneurs with access to equipment, knowledge and other resources.
Pittsburgh
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute announced the funding of a CCAC makerspace by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region's Build Back Better initiative awarded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Located at CCAC West Hills Center and scheduled to open this summer, the new CCAC Entrepreneurial Labs & Makerspace will provide the college community and regional businesses with access to advanced manufacturing, robotic and automation equipment. The space will contain a variety of machining equipment, 3D printers, collaborative robots, high end computer workstations, soldering stations and other resources that will allow community members to fabricate prototypes, products for sale and digital resources at an extremely low cost. The Entrepreneurial Labs & Makerspace is also designed to provide a secure coworking location and office area for individuals seeking to create or scale innovative business ideas.
"Community colleges are engines of regional economic development. At CCAC, we are committed to providing affordable opportunities for upskilling, training and pathways to family-sustaining wages. The funding of the new Entrepreneurial Labs & Makerspace will enable us to build on our existing capabilities and support a greater number of organizations and individuals," said Dr. Justin Starr, CCAC Endowed Professor, Advanced Technologies.
The ARM Institute is the nation's leading robotics Manufacturing Innovation Institute. Since 2017, the ARM Institute has worked with its nearly 400 member organizations to catalyze 120+ robotics and workforce projects to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. The institute facilitates collaboration among industry, government and academia to propel solutions that address urgent needs in manufacturing. Operating as a nonprofit organization, the ARM Institute acts as an honest broker between robotics and manufacturing stakeholders. Through the grant, the ARM Institute will advise the makerspaces and help to expand the scope of their services to benefit small and medium-sized manufacturers and manufacturing entrepreneurs.
CCAC is one of four funded regional makerspaces, along with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Penn State New Kensington and Westmoreland County Community College.