This investment will purchase equipment and critical supplies needed to create a PPE protyping and testing lab to go into the newly constructed manufacturing solutions center (MSC)

The City of Conover, North Carolina received a $750,000 project grant award from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program. The funding will support the purchase of equipment and critical supplies needed to establish a personal protective equipment (PPE) prototyping and testing lab at the newly constructed Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC). The lab will expand MSC's testing, prototyping, and technical assistance services to U.S. companies seeking to reshore PPE manufacturing and other textile production. By aiding economic resilience and long-term recovery from COVID-19, the lab aims to help ensure regional communities remain globally competitive. The EDA grant to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments supported regional planning efforts to strengthen the economy through coordinated public-private sector collaboration and job creation.

The purchase of the needed equipment for the new building will allow MSC to expand its testing, prototyping and technical assistance to U.S. Companies seeking help to reshore PPE manufacturing and other textile products. The services provided by MSC will assist with economic resilience, aid in long-term recovery from covid-19 and prepare companies for other economic shocks in the future, ensuring U.S. Communities are globally competitive. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the western piedmont council of governments. EDA funds western piedmont council of governments to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.