Grant Generously Funds Application and Endorsement Process for Ten Western Pennsylvania Programs
November 4, 2021 Pittsburgh, PA – The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute has announced that the Henry L. Hillman Foundation has provided a grant of $200,000 to the Institute to endorse organizations in Western Pennsylvania that are the most effective at preparing students for careers in manufacturing working with robotics.
The ARM Institute is the nation’s leading collaborative in robotics and workforce innovation, working at the confluence of industry, government, and academia. Structured as a public-private partnership, the ARM Institute, and its 300+ member organizations, catalyze robotic technologies and education solutions to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and secure U.S. manufacturing resiliency. The Institute is sponsored by the Department of Defense, and its diverse consortium includes start-ups, research universities, community colleges, manufacturers of all sizes, government agencies, workforce development organizations, and more.
Henry L. Hillman Foundation works to ensure that Pittsburgh’s considerable strengths, assets, and advantages are fully leveraged to make it one of the world’s most innovative and forward-looking cities, with a reputation for solving big problems through civic leadership and collaboration.
ARM Endorsement is a thorough process used to identify exemplary organizations that prepare students for careers using robots in manufacturing. The program was conceptualized and created through the ARM Institute’s national consortium, giving equal voice to the need of manufacturers, education providers, and government stakeholders.
The grant will provide ten (10) Endorsement assessments in the Western Pennsylvania region and create a regional community of practice from these Endorsed programs. The ARM Institute will work with regional partners to identify those programs that will undergo consideration for endorsement.
“Every program that applies for Endorsement will receive a robust analysis that articulates the strengths and opportunities for improvement of their training offerings. Programs that have successfully completed the analysis will receive increased visibility on RoboticsCareer.org, a national resource provided by the ARM Institute that connects education seekers with programs that prepare them for robotics careers in manufacturing,” stated Lisa Masciantonio, ARM Institute Chief Workforce Officer.
ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of 300+ consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, the ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people & robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and Twitter.