{"277391":{"#nid":"277391","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech uses grant to support state flooring industry","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDrive into northwest Georgia and you\u2019ll see one of the state\u2019s main manufacturers \u2013 the flooring and carpet industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBusiness here has thrived more than half a century and while there was job loss during the recession, companies are hiring once again. These jobs require new skills and training as employees will be called on to use different equipment and advanced know-how.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond the issue of a skilled workforce, companies must prepare for what the scene will be like in five, 10, even 20 years. These issues vary from new markets to advanced innovation to recycling technology, said Leigh Hopkins, a project manager with Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe institute, which advises businesses on how to succeed and thrive, is working with industry and community leaders through a federal grant received from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201cInvesting in Manufacturing Communities Partnership\u201d awards were designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing and create jobs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is working with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy focused on advanced manufacturing in the carpet and flooring industries in the region. They will apply for \u201cmanufacturing communities\u201d designation from the Economic Development Administration in mid-March, Hopkins said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is one of Georgia\u2019s true clusters and it needs attention and support,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cA stronger floor covering industry will help employers, the community and the entire state.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn recent months IVC US, Shaw Industries Group, and other manufacturers have announced plans to expand operations by creating new jobs, building new plants or expanding existing ones.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeter Sigmon, vice president of innovation for Shaw Industries, is part of the partnership group established under the grant. Their work represents a coordinated effort by industry, academia and government, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We hope for an agreed upon, long-term plan that integrates targeted investments in workforce training, infrastructure, research and other key assets that will help the industry continue to thrive in northwest Georgia,\u0022 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBrian Anderson, president of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, said the partnership group is approaching the issues from a regional perspective, which will allow them to be more successful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are thinking bigger than we normally would if we were all working by ourselves,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cThis is an opportunity for us to leverage all our resources and look at our workforce and industry needs in a transformative way.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Partnership aims to provide an economic boost for Georgia"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech part of collaborative effort to\u0026nbsp;develop a comprehensive strategy focused on advanced manufacturing in the carpet and flooring industries in the region.\u0026nbsp;Work is supported by a grant from the\u0026nbsp;U.S. Economic Development Administration.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech working with industry and community leaders to spur economic development"}],"uid":"27918","created_gmt":"2014-02-19 12:33:52","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:15:36","author":"Laura Diamond","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2014-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"3551","name":"carpet"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"11837","name":"Flooring"},{"id":"215","name":"manufacturing"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura Diamond\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EGeorgia Tech Media Relations\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-894-6016\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.diamond@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}