Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 25, 1993 TAG: 9311250119
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C3 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: ADRIENNE PETTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The grant, awarded under the Technology Reinvestment Program - a federal initiative to aid defense conversion and manufacturing modernization - will enable the A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Technology Center to hire five manufacturing extension specialists to work with Virginia companies.
"It's an important recognition from the president of how important manufacturing is to Martinsville and Henry County," said Ellis Woodward, a spokesman for congressman L.F. Payne. Notification of the grant was made Wednesday by President Clinton to Gov. Douglas Wilder.
The Philpott center was one of 160 U.S. organizations that applied for shares of $87.9 million awarded for extension programs.
In the same way that agricultural extension agents help farmers, the specialists will assist small and midsized companies to use computer systems and quality management techniques in their plants. Many of these companies lack access or resources to bring in such consultants on their own, said Robert de Voursney, a professor at University of Virginia's Center for Public Service and a consultant to the center.
The Philpott center will send the manufacturing specialists to businesses throughout the region. In addition to Martinsville, they will staff programs in Lynchburg, Petersburg and South Boston. The Lynchburg specialists would be available to businesses in Bedford, Roanoke and Salem, de Voursney said.
"We're not out to create a lot of new, exotic technology, but to take the best technology that's there and help integrate it," he said.
The grant will also lend momentum to the Philpott Center, which the General Assembly established in 1991 to provide consulting and training for Southside manufacturers.
"We're really in the start-up mode," de Voursney said. "This grant gives us the jump start we need."
The center also is looking for a boost from another federal program. Officials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology have agreed to come to Martinsville in the next few months to discuss other funding opportunities, Woodward said.
by CNB