December 6, 2016
AMP SoCal News and Events
  • Cubesats and Small Satellites Innovation Forum Recap & Videos
  • Strengthening Competitive Program Looking for Defense Impacted Firms
  • ELAC / UCLA Manufacturing Technology Bootcamp Seeks Hiring Companies
  • Air Force Launches Defense Technology Accelerator
  • Starburst Ventures Raised $200M to Fund New Space Tech Startups
  • $6M Workforce Grant in San Diego
  • Now Accepting Nominations for AMP SoCal Executive Council
  • Cal Competes Tax Credit Workshops
  • International Drone Expo
  • ExporTech Los Angeles for A&D Manufacturers
  • LAEDC Cybersecurity Forum
  • Inland Empire 2017 Manufacturers Summit
  • Fac-a-thon for Aerospace Manufacturing
  • SoCal Aerospace Expo 2017
Cubesats and Small Satellites Innovation Forum Recap & Videos
AMP SoCal featured the rapidly growing aerospace sector of small satellites (satellites under 500kg) as part of our Innovation Forum series. On November 18, attendees were invited to listen and interact with two panels about the next wave of satellite research and development. These quarterly events hosted by AMP SoCal are designed to connect small and medium manufacturing businesses with federal funding opportunities and cutting-edge aerospace technology. Featured speakers represented current university research a USC and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Industry speakers hailed from Boeing Phantomworks, and plasma thruster company, Phase Four.  You can read more about the Forum and view the entire video below.
Strengthening Competitiveness Program Seeking Defense Impacted Firms
The Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment has allocated funds for technical assistance to build strength and competitiveness for manufacturing firms within Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, that have been adversely affected by reduced Department of Defense procurement and contracting.  AMP SoCal has created an innovative program to help supply chain manufacturers (suppliers) recover from changes in the market place and grow. The program will conduct a company-specific Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, and then provide technical assistance either directly or through AMP SoCal’s network of partners to the help the company address its challenges.  The approach is designed to identify opportunities for diversification, growth, and increase in market share. We are now seeking eligible companies to work with and offer assistance.

ELAC / UCLA Introductory Level Manufacturing Technology Bootcamp Grads Need Jobs

How much time and money do you lose training new employees? East Los Angeles College and UCLA Extension are piloting a Manufacturing Technology Bootcamp to meet the demand. This accelerated 5-week certificate program will immerse students in the fundamentals of manufacturing procedures and processes. Once completed, students will be uniquely qualified for high-demand, entry-level positons in the manufacturing industry and will be interviewed by participating employers. 

We know that manufacturing employers are facing an ever-widening skills gap and workforce shortage.  This program is an innovative approach to close the gap with educated workers.  If your company would like to sign up to interview the graduates upon completion of the program please contact us now, as we expect to have several interested A&D firms.
Air Force Launches Defense Technology Accelerator with LightSpeed and
They Are Looking for Companies to Join

The Air Force might have some of the fastest and most lethal planes in the world, but it's still outgunned when it comes to its speed of innovation. The new Defense Technology Accelerator is designed to help change that.

The program has just announced its first project -- a Space Accelerator, which is a partnership with the nonprofit National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL) and administered by aerospace-focused accelerator LightSpeed Innovations based in Southern California. LightSpeed is accepting applications for the space project until Dec. 23, and the program is scheduled to begin in late January 2017.

Starburst Ventures closes $200 million debut fund to back space tech startups

A new venture fund called Starburst Ventures (based in California) has raised a $200 million debut fund to invest in early stage aerospace startups over the next three years.

The fund is an extension of the Starburst Accelerator, which was founded in 2012 to help aviation and aerospace tech startups raise seed funding, and score their first big deal with a corporate customer, typically representing $1 million or more in revenue.

$6 Mil Dept of Labor America’s Promise Grant Awarded to AMP SoCal Partners in San Diego
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are partnering with industry leaders, including AMP SoCal and others in creating an ambitious workforce development program in San Diego County and the Inland Empire to educate and train people from underserved populations at no cost for high-skilled, in-demand jobs, thanks to a new $6 million federal Department of Labor grant.

Now Accepting Nominations for the 
AMP SoCal Executive Council
Just when you thought election season was over, AMP SoCal has started the nomination process for positions on its Executive Council. The election will be held in January 2017. If you are interested in participating, please follow the instructions below.

GO-Biz Hosting Workshops for Businesses Interested in Applying for
$100 Million in Tax Credits
The Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) is awarding a total of $243.3 million in tax credits in fiscal year 2016-17. The next California Competes Tax Credit application period starts January 2, 2017, with $100 million in tax credits available. Businesses interested in applying can register to attend any of the 14 Southern California workshops scheduled between Dec. 9th - 20th,  and receive valuable information from GO-Biz staff. Since its inception in 2014 the California Competes Tax Credit program has awarded over $25 million in tax credits to aerospace firms.

International Drone Expo - Dec 9 - 10, 2016
AMP SoCal Discount Now Offered

Visit AMP SoCal at the
Vocademy Expo Booth #222
The 3rd annual International Drone Expo (IDE), the largest gathering of the global commercial drone community, will take place December 9-10, 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. IDE is the official marketplace for all things drone! We are just beginning a new era of aviation. The future is now and drones are here to stay!  Use discount code IDE30 to receive 30% off your full conference registration. 

Dec 14th - Future Forum: Cyber Security
Join us at Future Forum Cyber Security to hear directly from PwC about the cyber security insights they gleaned from their Global State of Information Security® Survey 2017, which aggregated more than 10,000 responses from CIOs in 133 countries, examining how executives are tackling cybersecurity, privacy and threats. More lessons learned will be discussed by our featured speaker, Wendy Frank, Partner at PwC in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Risk Management.

EXPORTECH Los Angeles for Aerospace & Defense Manufacturers ~ NEW DATES ~
If you are a manufacturer that has been impacted by defense budget reductions, take advantage of ExporTech™, the only national program that helps individual companies develop an export plan. Group workshops are combined with an individual coach for each company, leading to an export plan in 9 weeks. Peer group model, limited to leaders from 6-8 companies, that maximizes impact and propels action.
  • Session 1                    February 2017
  • Session 2                    March 2017
  • Session 3                    April 2017

2017 Inland Empire Manufacturing Summit
Join us at the 6th Annual Summit, Friday, February 3, 2017, at the Ontario Convention Center. The Annual Manufacturers’ Summit provides relevant information for area manufacturers, highlights the successes of business in the Inland Empire and promotes manufacturing jobs. Summit attendees are given the opportunity to discuss solutions to the most pressing issues facing the manufacturing community, including regulations, workforce development, resource efficiency, exporting, marketing and more.

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) supports and provides education on manufacturing topics to manufacturers, employees, students, and the community.

Fac-a-thon Links Faculty’s Top Minds to Manufacturing’s Top Research Needs - New Date:  February 10, 2017 -

Join us for the AMP SoCal Fac-a-thon on February 10. This aerospace research opportunity is available to all interested industry, faculty representatives and their chosen graduate students. We will use the information gathered through this initiative to prepare a proposal to the National Science Foundation's Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Future Aerospace Platforms. This ties into the Fac-a-thon's ultimate mission of sharpening the competitive edge of A&D manufacturers and their supply chain, which includes more efficient technologies and processes for product development.


The goal of the SoCal AeroExpo  is to bring Aerospace, Defense and Space business back to Southern California. We are connecting OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 domestic and foreign customers with local suppliers to facilitate communication thru B2B pre-arranged matchmaking meetings. 
Don't Miss Out
If you missed any of our past AMP SoCal newsletters, workshop videos or announcements, click here to access our media & outreach page:
Not at an AMP SoCal Partner?  Here's How You Can Become One
True to its name as the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership for Southern California, AMP SoCal is made up of over 100 organizations in both public and private sectors, across government, academia and industry, that partner together for the benefit of the aerospace and defense manufacturing economy. Join this dynamic partnership by filling out our online form.   Click Here to Become a Partner
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Email us at AMPSoCal@usc.edu
AMP SoCal | (213) 740-9494 | ampsocal@usc.edu | AMPSoCal.org