F E B R U A R Y--2 0 2 3

--SWISS TURN--

RCBI adds to trove of manufacturing tech ---Manufacturers already are lining up to take advantage of the newest technology at RCBI: A Tsugami high-precision lathe that recently arrived at the Huntington Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. The Swiss-style turning equipment can produce hundreds or thousands of precise parts in a single setup. It's just the last technological upgrade to arrive at RCBI. To keep area manufacturers on the leading edge of technology, RCBI will install additional equipment in the coming months. Read the article

-gBUSINESS TO BUSINESS -

Expo presents supplier opportunities ---Learn how your small business can become a supplier of goods and services to American Electric Power (AEP), the region's largest producer of electricity, by participating in our April 10 Supply Chain Expo. Click the link below to see the lengthy list of goods and services AEP needs and to register for this free virtual event. ---These ongoing series of expos, presented by RCBI and Advanced Valley, have resulted in numerous contracts for small businesses across West Virginia. Read the article

--SUMMER LEARNING...AND FUN!--

RCBI maker camps offer STEM adventures --- Registration is now open for RCBI’s Summer STEMventure Camps for students 9 to 16 years old. Participants will explore the fields of science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on making activities with computer-aided design, laser cutting, 3D printing, robotics and more. ---The camps in Huntington, South Charleston and Bridgeport will immerse students in the manufacturing process, as they design their very own custom creations and produce them using RCBI’s advanced technologies. -Learn more

- ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE-

Toyota lends support to internship program ---Toyota West Virginia has awarded RCBI a grant to support its Engineering-Entrepreneurial Services Internship Program, which provides engineering students with practical, hands-on experience in manufacturing and product development. Toyota's financial assistance will provide a $5,000 stipend to an RCBI engineering intern as the student gains real-world experience assisting manufacturers and entrepreneurs with design and development of new products, prototyping and advanced manufacturing. Read the article

--BRIDGING INNOVATION WEEK--

Entrepreneur extravaganza set for April 17-21 --Join RCBI and other entrepreneur support organizations from across West Virginia April 17-21 in Wheeling for Bridging Innovation Week, the state’s premier entrepreneurship event. The annual symposium provides promotional, educational and business development opportunities for business owners, current and prospective entrepreneurs, and entrepreneur serving organizations throughout West Virginia. Whether you’re just starting a business or looking to scale, this is the event to explore entrepreneurship opportunities in the Mountain State! Details and registration

U P C O M I N G-- E V E N T S

March 1: Workforce W.Va. Virtual Job Fair noon to 3 p.m. online Job seekers can connect with companies from across the state that are hiring. More information March 1: Top 5 Rules to Follow to Be Successful Government Contracts noon to 12:30 p.m. virtual Experts with the West Virginia Women’s Business Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration explain the steps to take to become a successful government contractor. More information March 2: Build Your Own Small Business 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Marmet Town Hall, 9403 MacCorkle Ave SE, Marmet  Join us for an Upper Kanawha Valley Small Business Start Up Workshop! FASTER WV partners with the Kanawha County Commission and Charleston Area Alliance to share resources to help folks start or grow small businesses! More information March 7: Patents: Learning How to Search 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., online Knowing how to search patents is helpful for inventors to see what similar items already exist. It also can help in researching older technologies and figuring out how a new technology works. Attend this free Research Commons workshop to learn how searching patents using classification will assist you. More information March 14: Resources for Small Businesses noon to 12:30 p.m. online Nearly a quarter of all businesses fail in the first year and 50 percent fail within the first five years. Don’t be a statistic. Learn about the free business services available nationwide from SBA and its resource partners. More information  March 14: W.Va. Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Monthly Meeting 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. online Monthly meeting to connect and identify opportunities for improvement in aiding entrepreneurs across the state. The work aims to bring together key providers in the state to share best practices and inspire collaborations. More information March 22-23: West Virginia Construction & Design Expo 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Learn about the latest technology and trends, network with industry leaders and discover solutions to your workforce needs. More information If you have upcoming events that you'd like us to share, email details to Mike Friel at mfriel@rcbi.org.

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