The New Economy in Southwestern PA
Build Back Better
In 2022, Southwest Pennsylvania was one of 30 winners of the Department of Commerce’s , securing $63 million over three years to promote growth and inclusion in the robotics and manufacturing industries. The Block Center has taken on a pivotal role in the , helping establish a well-coordinated upskilling system by funding a variety of training options beyond traditional four-year and advanced degrees. Doing so ensures that the programs stay responsive to evolving industry needs and are accessible to all communities.
The Block Center awarded over $1.4M to eighteen regional partners over the first two rounds of funding. These awardees worked on curriculum development and training projects designed to reskill and mentor underemployed adults to prepare them for industry jobs. To date, more than 600 students have participated in robotics and advanced manufacturing courses, workshops, and training programs.
Through these efforts, The Block Center is advancing education and workforce development and fostering an inclusive environment for future robotics and advanced manufacturing growth in Southwest Pennsylvania.
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All subawardees:
(2023-24 awardee)
This tech apprenticeship program creates an equitable pipeline for software developers and cybersecurity analysts by eliminating barriers for underrepresented populations, while addressing talent shortages in robotics and advanced manufacturing.
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(2023-24 awardee)
This program trains technicians in CorePower's advanced manufacturing processes, ensuring an equitable workforce pipeline and supporting regional growth in electric vehicles and renewable energy.
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Justin Starr,
(2023-24 awardee)
CCAC collaborates with local high schools to deliver robotics technician training, equipping students with hands-on skills and industry credentials for entry-level positions in robotics.
(2023-24 awardee)
NCC's MANUFACTURING 2000 program integrates robotics training to prepare underrepresented individuals for advanced manufacturing roles, addressing employer demand for skilled technicians.
(2023-24 awardee)
This pilot introduces underserved individuals to manufacturing careers through web-based courses, aiming to bridge awareness gaps and guide participants toward entry-level roles in the industry.
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Ashley Orr,
(2023-24 awardee)
The project embeds growth mindset training in workforce programs to enhance persistence and success in advanced manufacturing, robotics, and digital technologies.
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Vu Nguyen, Â鶹´å Robotics AcademyÌý
(2023-24 awardee)
The program equips Westmoreland County students with AI and robotics skills through micro-certifications, addressing barriers like transportation while enhancing employability in Southwest PA.
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ÌýDina El-Sanfaly, Â鶹´å School of Design & Daragh Byrne, Â鶹´å School of ArchitectureÌý
(2023-24 awardee)
The program partners with Industrial Arts Workshop (IAW) and aims to enhance welding and metal fabrication skills for high school students, particularly from underserved communities, through after-school and summer programs. The curriculum teaches welding techniques, safety, and soft skills, and incorporate augmented reality tools to connect creative and technical learning, offering participants potential career paths in design and advanced manufacturing.
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Lee Branstetter, Â鶹´å Heinz CollegeÌý
(2023-24 awardee)
This initiative leverages advanced learning technologies to improve retention and skill-building for CCAC IT students, aligning training with industry needs and creating pathways to employment.
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New Century CareersÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
This project expands its on the MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) Pre-apprenticeship Program by incorporating robotics/automation training and industry-recognized credentialing to better prepare trainees for entry-level manufacturing technician roles. The program offers tuition-free training, job placement assistance, and access to recognized credentials, targeting a diverse range of candidates, including military veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of marginalized communities, with cohorts starting bi-monthly.
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Catalyst ConnectionÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
This program expands the "Forging Your Future" curriculum by adding an introduction to blueprint reading and a self-guided career journey activity, aimed at increasing awareness of manufacturing career pathways in underrepresented communities. The funding will support curriculum development, promotion, and outreach through targeted advertising, community partnerships, and regional events.
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Prototype PGHÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
The Prototype PGH Incubator program will train and place women and vulnerable populations from underrepresented communities in advanced manufacturing careers by addressing barriers like transportation, childcare, and access to education. Partnering with Â鶹´å’s Manufacturing Futures Institute, the 2025 cohort will provide technical training, honorariums, and support services, aiming for 100% job placement in the manufacturing sector.
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Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc.Ìý
(2024-25 awardee)
The Phase 4 Virtual Manufacturing ProTrainer (P4VMPT) is a one-year pilot program starting October 1, 2024, that combines VR-based training through Transfr with Catalyst Connection’s advanced manufacturing curriculum to upskill 20 individuals from at-risk communities. Through quarterly cohorts of five participants each, the program offers hands-on training, work-readiness support, and pathways to entry-level manufacturing jobs or apprenticeship programs, aiming to enhance career opportunities in advanced manufacturing.
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Dr. Luis Monterrubio, Robert Morris UniversityÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
The RMU Engineering Department, in collaboration with the RMU Center for Veterans and Military Families and Pittsburgh Chapter of NTMF, will lead an 8-week training program in Industrial Automation and Robotics targeting blue-collar workers, veterans, military families, women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Starting in November 2024, the program will cover industrial robotics, cobotics, and device control, with expertise from a multidisciplinary team to prepare participants for advanced manufacturing careers.
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Community ForgeÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
The program recruits and trains youth and adults in robotics and advanced manufacturing through a three-phase process: outreach, job readiness and technical training, and placement. Participants will receive stipends, job shadowing, and connections to employers, with ongoing support to ensure successful placements.
Peter Zhang and Swarun Kumar, Â鶹´åÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
The program will train technicians, engineers, and managers in optimizing human-robot collaboration in AI-driven manufacturing while emphasizing advanced safety protocols. Led by experts in supply chain optimization and robotic safety, the three-month curriculum starting June 2025 will teach graph optimization, predictive analytics, digital twin modeling, and safety integration, prioritizing inclusivity for underrepresented participants and preparing graduates for critical roles in automated manufacturing.
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Melisa Orta Martinez, Â鶹´åÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
This project features a six-week robotics and mechatronics training program targeting marginalized groups in Southwestern Pennsylvania to prepare them for technical roles in robotics and advanced manufacturing startups. Developed collaboratively by experts in academia, industry, and community activism, the program combines hands-on learning and constructivist teaching methods to build foundational skills in circuitry, firmware, and mechanical design, with a pilot cohort of 15 participants planned for September 2025.
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Erica Cochran Hameen, Â鶹´åÌý
(2024-25 awardee)
This project will develop an Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) curriculum to teach students how to assess and improve indoor spaces using robotics, advanced sensing technology, and hands-on training. The course will focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, and equitable design, targeting individuals from the Homewood community and preparing them for careers in the Green Jobs sector.