The U.S. Department of Commerce agreed on Wednesday to grant Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-WV) request to include the Greater Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturing Community in the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP).
The program will provide federal funding and guidance for the 20-county metropolitan area, which spans from West Virginia to Pennsylvania. The region houses more than 1,600 metal manufacturing companies, which employ more than 63,000 workers.
Capito sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in March requesting the designation for her constituency, reiterating the important role West Virginia plays in the industry and the potential it has for creating new manufacturing jobs through IMCP.
The 12 communities picked for the partnership were chosen based on the strength of their economic development plans, the potential for impact in their communities, and the depths of their partnerships across the public and private sectors to carry out their plans.
“Today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce is positive news for West Virginians and a recognition of the role our state is poised to play in boosting manufacturing and U.S. exports,” Capito said. “With this new designation, our communities can create a sustained manufacturing sector that will greatly benefit this region.”