America Makes and NASA's $2.25 Million Dollar Challenge
http://www.vindy.com/news/2015/may/24/america-makes-nasa-team-up-for-m--d-chal/ (http://www.vindy.com/news/2015/may/24/america-makes-nasa-team-up-for-m--d-chal/)
This will make for great PR for a Youngstown company, and Youngstown in general.
https://www.facebook.com/AmericaMakes (https://www.facebook.com/AmericaMakes)
http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/northeast-ohio/2015/03/18/president-obama-america-makes-youngstown-high-tech-initiative/24993709/ (http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/northeast-ohio/2015/03/18/president-obama-america-makes-youngstown-high-tech-initiative/24993709/)
Aerospace, automotive manufacturing and medical instruments/appliances are all
excellent opportunities for 3D printer manufacturing in the Youngstown area.
REALITY CHECK ... Does this mean that we are going to see more companies wanting to set up shop here in Youngstown? No! Are we going to see more job opporutnities open up in the near future? No! Are we going to see the bleeding of youth leaving Youngstown for better jobs elsewhere? Yes. Is this going to be a good opportunity for YSU? Yes! Does this give us hope for the future? That remains to be seen.
I vote that we give them a chance and see how it all pans out. I would LOVE
so see someone open a business that would manufacture the actual printer
hardware and supporting machinery - and then sell it to companies that
come to the America Makes institute to learn 3D manufacturing techniques.
It would be a great export business for Youngstown - the equipment gets
exported, and the money gets imported.