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Catalyst Connection has piloted a new manufacturing ambassador program for 2021. The program, called Navigators, is modeled after a national best practice program created by the Manufacturing Institute. Throughout the program, a team of eight ambassadors from local manufacturing companies will be connected with local schools, after school programs, and participate in virtual experiences to inspire and share their pathway story into a career in manufacturing. Ambassadors, or “Navigators,” will…

Catalyst Connection’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Apprenticeship Program has Four New Graduates PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania— Catalyst Connection is very proud of the graduates from our group sponsored Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Apprenticeship program. Over the past 18 months, four employees of IGS Industries, located in Washington County (www.igsind.com), JR, Tom, Chrissy and Howie, have completed their required classroom training hours and on-the-job training (OJT) competencies. Following their classroom training, the group…

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funding allows Catalyst Connection to recruit and place dislocated coal sector and COVID-19 workers into high demand manufacturing, robotics, and technology sector jobs. PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania: October 22, 2020—A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will be used by Catalyst Connection, a private not-for-profit consulting organization, for their REAL Jobs for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing project. This project provides collaborative opportunities to bring together a…

Catalyst Connection partnered with the Johnstown Area Regional Industries (JARI) and the University of Pittsburgh to provide both physical and virtual support to small entities seeking to commercialize their products. The virtual Maker-to-Manufacturing Commercialization Center (M2M) connected entrepreneurial makers and small businesses to a larger ecosystem of manufacturing. M2M was able to offer services and resources including technical assistance, access to peer networks, and mini-grant funding for intensive service…

For Immediate Release -- September 24, 2020 Catalyst Connection Receives DOD funding to Strengthen the Defense Supply Chain in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia Pittsburgh, PA - The U.S. Department of Defense has formally designated a consortium of southwestern Pennsylvania's defense industry members, led by Catalyst Connection, as a Defense Manufacturing Community. This comes after the announcement that the Department would award a total of six grants totaling…