Western New York will be site for nation’s first RAMI hub

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) announced last week that Western New York will be the first site for the high-tech manufacturing center concept authorized by the recent passage of his Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI).

The investment in the manufacturing hub is expected to have a positive impact on the region,

“The passage of RAMI was a tremendous legislative victory for the people of Western New York,” Reed said. “Pieces of legislation like this don’t often get passed into law, even after 30 years of career legislative service. This was a great accomplishment, and I’m very proud to have sponsored this bill.”

The new site will be funded by a culmination of a multimillion dollar investment from public, private and non-profit entities from within the region, including Corning, Inc., Alfred University, University of Rochester and the United States Department of Defense. A specific location for the facility has not been decided, but it is expected to be in the greater Canandaigua area.

Reed’s RAMI legislation was approved and signed into law last year. It essentially requires the U.S. Department of Commerce, along with other agencies, to develop these high tech manufacturing hubs, with an intent to encourage economic development around the hub and spur innovation. The overall goal is to create new jobs, develop highly skilled workers while also revitalizing America’s manufacturing industry.

“The workforce of Western New York is second to none,” Reed said. “With such a rich heritage in manufacturing, it only makes sense that we bring this first-of-its-kind facility right here. Sites like this one will ensure that we can ‘make it here, and sell it there’ once again.”