S E P T E M B E R--2 0 2 1
U.S. Department of Labor backs RCBI
workforce initiative with $1.49 million award
---RCBI and a broad coalition of partners, including Marshall University’s Creating Opportunities for Recovery Employment (CORE), Region 1, 2 and 3 Workforce Boards in West Virginia, the Greater Ohio Workforce Board, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Rhema Development and Hope Nation as well as private industry partners will launch an innovative, mutifaceted, industry-driven workforce training initiative across the Tri-State region thanks to a $1.49 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
---The Advanced Manufacturing and Construction Skills Training initiative will provide the hands-on education and training needed to put people to work, said Charlotte Weber, RCBI director & CEO. The program will target and retrain workers displaced because of the downturn in this traditionally coal-reliant region as well
as individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
---As part of the initiative, RCBI will expand the short-term manufacturing training and career skills degree and certificate programs it offers in partnership with Mountwest to train manufacturing technicians for entry level jobs that align with the specific needs of industry. In addition, Mountwest will expand its industrial electronics offerings and provide peer recovery counseling through the Southern West Virginia Collegiate Peer Recovery Network.
---The initiative also will team with the soon-to-launch Marshall/Mountwest Aviation Maintenance Technology program to offer additional certifications that not only will enhance students’ aviation education but develop skill sets applicable across a variety of industries.
EDA boosts entrepreneurship
efforts with $500,000 award

---RCBI has received a major boost from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to expand efforts to build an entrepreneurial and innovation-focused economy across West Virginia.
---The EDA has recognized RCBI as one of 60 University Center recipients across the United States. This recognition and award of more than $500,000 will propel the delivery of direct business and technical assistance, strengthen regional collaborations, improve supply chains connections, and develop new technologies.
---RCBI will partner with institutions of higher education and economic development organizations across the state as well as Marshall University's iCenter, part of the Lewis College of Business, Brad D. Smith Schools of Business; and the Alliance for the Economic
Development of Southern West Virginia on programs to enhance the regional economy.
---The initiative also will target state industries with the greatest growth potential, including aviation, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food production, medical manufacturing, technology, outdoor recreation and alternative uses for coal.
---“RCBI is honored to be one of 60 U.S. EDA University Centers across the country,” said Charlotte Weber, RCBI director & CEO.
Makers, on your mark! Design Challenge to reward innovation
---Calling all makers across central Appalachia: mark your calendars! The Tri-State Makes Festival, RCBI’s annual celebration of creativity and ingenuity, will continue this year with a virtual Design Challenge.
---Hobbyists, inventors, tinkerers, artists and students of all ages who enter the Design Challenge are eligible for one of several awards including the “Best of Show” grand prize. Participants should create a unique invention and submit a 2-minute video explaining their creation and the making process.
---Winners will be announced online during a live event Dec. 9.
---In addition to the Design Challenge, this year’s Tri-State Makes Festival will feature a series of Maker
Master Classes to encourage people of all ages to develop their making talents.
---To receive updates once details of the Makes Festival and Design Challege are finalized, submit your contact information here.
Competition to recognize best
in student agricultural innovation
---RCBI and a statewide group of partners announce the fifth-annual Student Ag Innovation Challenge to encourage problem-solving and innovation among West Virginia students interested in agriculture.
---Students in grades seven through 12 are eligible to compete for multiple prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000 cash, an iPad and a $200 gift card. The competition emphasizes solving an agricultural issue in one of six focus areas: agribusiness systems; animal systems; environmental and natural resources management; food products and processing systems; plant systems; and power, structural and technical systems.
---“Young people can inject fresh perspectives,” said Evan Nelson, manager of Agricultural Innovations at RCBI. “Past winners of our competition have developed some very innovative approaches to improving agriculture in the Mountain State. We’re excited to see
the creative solutions that students propose this year.”
---The student challenge is the centerpiece of the West Virginia Agricultural Innovation Showcase, presented annually by RCBI, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the West Virginia Department of Education and Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. The showcase will take place Oct. 20 on the campus of Eastern in Moorefield.
S U C C E S S--S T O R Y
Archery entrepreneur taps into RCBI
services to start, market business

---Archery isn’t a hobby for Scott Depot resident David Powell: It’s a self-described way of life.
---When he’s not fulfilling his duties as an executive with a large commercial roofing manufacturer, Powell often embarks on hunting expeditions across the country – and sometimes beyond – as well as competes in Total Archery Challenge events, which involve maneuvering courses over several miles, often at elevations about 10,000 feet.
---Powell said his competitive nature fuels his constant search for ways to gain a competitive advantage in the sport. One challenge he sought to overcome was how to easily adjust his bow sights to increase the distance and accuracy of his shots. “I couldn’t find any commercially available solution to these challenges so I set out to develop my own practical solutions.”
---Combining his extensive knowledge of the sport with some trial and effort, Powell developed a concept for an accessory that would allow archers to remove the bow’s sight wheel and tape and replace them quickly and easily with another wheel and sight tape to adjust for different circumstances, things such as changing distance, arrow weight, weather conditions or the type of game being hunted.

The Long Range Archery Solutions sight wheels were produced on RCBI's Stratasys J850 3D printer, which prints much faster than traditional 3D systems and can create items in multiple colors and multiple materials simultaneously.
---To bring his idea to life, Powell turned to the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI). He had heard about RCBI several years earlier from a friend who took machinist classes there. Another friend recently told him about the 3D printing capabilities of the organization. “Still, I had no idea of the wide range of services that are available under the umbrella that is RCBI,” he said.
State launches one-stop portal
to connect businesses to resources
---
---West Virginia BusinessLink is a one-stop portal that connects you to an expanding network of agency and organization resource partners. Answer a few questions to describe your business needs, and BusinessLink sorts through the expertise database to connect you with the appropriate resources.
---Entrepreneurs and business owners can go online to
wvbusinesslink.com and search for resources in a specific area, explore upcoming networking and training events or browse Startup, Grow and Funding sections for resources to support the specific stage of your business operations.
---For one-on-one appointments to discuss business needs, call 888.982.7232.
RCBI delivers advanced welding training at your company location

---Through the Advanced Welding Workforce Initiative, RCBI delivers on-site customized welding training for companies seeking to enhance employee skills. Training is delivered at your location and at your convenience to meet your company's specific needs.
---Key features of the program are: 
  • Welding processes including but not limited to stick (SMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), MIG (GMAW) and pulse (GMAW-P)
  • Instructors experienced in a range of materials from carbon steel to super alloys and aluminum (pipe and plate)
  • AWS and ASME certification testing
---To schedule training or learn more, contact Carol
Howerton at carol.howerton@rcbi.org or 304.781.1680.
---AWWI is made possible through the generous support of the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
RCBI national apprenticeship program expands to 21 states

---An increasing number of manufacturers across the United States are taking advantage of Apprenticeship Works, the National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Partnership at RCBI, to bridge the skills gap in manufacturing.
---To date, Apprenticeship Works has partnered with companies in 21 states to develop registered apprenticeships in 20 manufacturing occupations, including machining, robotics, welding and 3D printing technology. Programs are flexible and can be tailored to a company’s specific operation.
---New participants in the program include companies in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts and Ohio as well as West Virginia manufacturers Alcon, Nulls Machine and Manufacturing, and Wooten Machine of Huntington; and U.S. Bearing and Power Transmission Corp of Scott Depot. A total of 16 West Virginia companies take part in the program.
---Learn how Apprenticeship Works can help you upskill incumbent workers or train new hires by contacting RCBI’s Lucinda Curry at lcurry@rcbi.org or 304.720.7742.
---Initial funding for Apprenticeship Works was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.
U P C O M I N G-- E V E N T S

Oct. 7: Credit 101 sponsored by the SBDC, online workshop, 9-10-am. More information
Oct. 10-13: Virtual Trade Mission, Middle East & North Africa by WV Department of Economic Development.
Oct. 14: SBIR-STTR Bootcamp sponsored by TechConnect and the WV SBDC, online, 3-5 pm. More information
Oct. 20: WV Ag Innovation Showcase, Eastern CTC, Moorefield., 9:30 am- 3 pm. More information
Oct. 26: Northcentral WV Business Summit, Mollohan Research Center, Fairmont, 8 am-3 pm. More information