Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation (EDC) was recently recognized for outstanding investment attraction strategies focused on support of intelligent manufacturing. The recognition was given by U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets, Ian Steff, at the department’s annual Discover Global Markets conference held virtually this year in Indianapolis, Oct. 7-9.
Fourteen separate companies and economic development organizations from around the nation were honored for their utilization or support of intelligent manufacturing. A formal presentation from the Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program was held virtually on Dec. 4, with SelectUSA Acting Director, Ms. Dina Beaumont, delivering remarks.
“For four decades, we have been proud to lead initiatives that support existing manufacturers while also recruiting new domestic and international companies to Columbus and Bartholomew County, Indiana,” said Jason Hester, president of Greater Columbus EDC. “Today, our community has the highest concentration of industrial and mechanical engineering occupations in the nation while our manufacturing workforce ranks in the top 2%. As such, we are keenly focused on supporting with our partners continued growth and diversification of smart manufacturing and related engineering operations in and around Columbus, Indiana, now and for decades to come.”
In addition to Greater Columbus EDC, other award recipients with Indiana operations included Rolls-Royce Defense, Saab Aerospace, and Greater Lafayette Commerce.
