HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
RCBI designated part of new
Defense manufacturing consortium
---The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) at Marshall University has been designated part of a new consortium working to strengthen Defense manufacturing capabilities in West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania.
---The U.S. Department of Defense awarded $5 million for the Artificial Intelligence in Metals and Manufacturing Consortium (AIM) to strengthen Defense manufacturing capabilities through an industrial production ecosystem that melds advanced metals and materials with artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing (3D printing) and robotics. ------RCBI will serve as a hub for delivery of technical services, quality assurance, prototyping, customized training, supply chain support and apprenticeships for
Defense sector contractors across the region.
--Led by Pittsburgh-based Catalyst Connection, a private, non-profit organization that provides consulting and training to small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, the consortium includes 30 manufacturing organizations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 
Six W.Va. innovators awarded
early-stage assistance from RCBI
--The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) at Marshall University is continuing to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses as they innovate and expand markets during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
---RCBI has announced $42,000 in early-stage assistance to six additional West Virginia businesses and entrepreneurs. The latest awards support the development of a cross section of new products with commercial potential.
---Including this latest round of seed funding, RCBI has awarded more than $765,000 to 189 entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses since 2012.
---Early stage assistance helps small businesses and startups design and produce prototypes of new products, expand production and reach new markets, said Charlotte Weber, RCBI Director & CEO.
Statewide agriculture competition
to reward student innovation
---RCBI and a statewide group of partners announce the fourth-annual Student Ag Innovation Challenge to encourage problem-solving and innovation among West Virginia students interested in agriculture.
---State students in grades seven through 12 are eligible to compete for cash prizes including a $500 grand prize.
---The competition emphasizes solving an agriculture 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.
---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.
RCBI promotes specialty crops
in growing craft beverage industry
West Virginia’s burgeoning craft beverage industry is getting a boost from a new RCBI initiative to expand the use of specialty crops in state-made drinks.
“The number of craft beverage producers in West Virginia has nearly tripled since 2014,” said Bill Woodrum, director of entrepreneurship and agricultural programs at RCBI. “We want to help residents capitalize on this momentum and connect them to local sources for their ingredients.”
---RCBI is teaming with Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Moorefield and
Unlimited Future and the Wild Ramp in Huntington on the statewide effort to expand cultivation of
specialty crops for the craft beverage market, connect growers to bottlers that need specialty crops and promote the use of locally grown fruits, vegetables, berries and herbs to produce craft beverages.
Apprenticeship Works partnership offers free training for a limited time
---RCBI’s Apprenticeship Works partnership is offering companies the opportunity to enroll new registered apprentices free of charge for their first year, a savings of $1,330 for each apprentice. This includes RCBI program management, related online training, and customization and tracking of on-the-job training competencies.
---Seats are limited and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis until September 30, 2021.
---Apprenticeship Works -- a nationally recognized model that assists manufacturers across the United States in establishing registered apprenticeships in 20 manufacturing occupations -- currently partners with 30 companies at 51 sites across 18 states.
---For more information, visit our website at www.rcbi.org/online/apprenticeships or
contact Lucinda Curry at lcurry@rcbi.org or 304.720.7742.
Maximizing Your Workforce
Through Apprenticeship

---RCBI recently partnered with America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, to offer a virtual event about how employers can leverage apprenticeship programs to get the most from their workforces.
SBDC provides online tool to help
businesses assess cyber risks
---The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a free online assessment and educational course to help small businesses determine how vulnerable they are to cybersecurity threats.
---The SBDC's self-paced online assessment presents real-world scenarios to explain the types of threats small businesses typically face and help identify potential weakness while offering guidance
for maintaining secure systems.
---For additional information, visit the SBDC website here.
Delivery of new technology just
first of several upgrades at RCBI
---The first in a series of new, state-of-the art manufacturing technology arrived this month at RCBI Huntington. More exciting news to come. Stay tuned for details…
U P C O M I N G-- E V E N T S
Jan. 7: SBIR/STTR Boot Camp sponsored by TechConnect. Online, 3 p.m. More information
Jan. 7: The Importance of Innovation in West Virginia Agriculture, Agcellerator online workshop, 10 a.m.
---------More information
Jan. 13: Growing Your Business webinar presented by BB&T. 2-3 p.m. More information
Jan. 14: Innovating for Success, Agcellerator online workshop, 10 a.m. More information
Jan. 21: Bringing It All Together, Agcellerator online workshop, 10 a.m. More information