Blog

With Veterans Day being today, there’s no better time to celebrate the vital role veterans play in the manufacturing world. Moving from military service into civilian careers, veterans bring a unique mix of skills, discipline, and resilience that fits right into the fast-paced, team-focused environment of manufacturing. Their experience and training make them natural leaders, problem-solvers, and innovators on the shop floor, helping manufacturing companies grow stronger and more…

Exciting news from Catalyst Connection: We've secured a transformative $2 million ARC POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission! This substantial funding fuels our Forging Your Future initiative, crafted to cultivate a dynamic and skilled advanced manufacturing workforce across southwestern Pennsylvania. "With manufacturing driving a $12 billion economy and employing almost 90,000 people in southwestern Pennsylvania, it's a beacon of hope and prosperity for Appalachian communities," says Petra Mitchell,…

In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, strong leadership isn’t just about managing processes—it’s about leading people. The success of a business increasingly relies on the ability of supervisors to foster engagement, productivity, and employee retention. For manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, this is particularly critical as the need for effective team management becomes more pressing in an evolving industry. The “Supervisory Skills forToday’s Workplace” training series offers a comprehensive approach to…

As a business operating in the U.S., it's essential to stay ahead of new regulations that could impact your compliance requirements. One of the most significant updates on the horizon is the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a federal law designed to increase transparency in business ownership and combat financial crimes. The CTA introduces new reporting obligations for many U.S. businesses, and understanding how it applies to your company is…

In the ever-evolving world of small business, securing the right kind of financing can often be the difference between stagnation and growth. This is especially true for small to medium-sized manufacturers who face unique challenges in accessing the capital needed to expand, innovate, or simply continue operations. For many businesses, traditional lenders, like banks, may not always offer the flexibility or solutions required to thrive in a competitive environment.…