O C T O B E R--2 0 2 1
RCBI expands machinist program to meet demand
---The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) is expanding its nationally recognized Machinist Technology/CNC Program to meet industry demand for skilled workers.
---RCBI, in conjunction with Mountwest Community & Technical College, will launch new Machinist Technology/CNC classes in January to increase the number of students training for available manufacturing jobs in West Virginia and the surrounding region.
---Prospective students looking to start their career journey or embark on a new path can get started early rather than wait until fall semester, said Charlotte Weber, RCBI director & CEO.
Haas Foundation donates
to RCBI scholarship fund
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---The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded RCBI $8,000 to support scholarships for individuals pursuing manufacturing careers through RCBI’s nationally recognized Machinist Technology/CNC Program.
---RCBI 's program offers rigorous, hands-on instruction to prepare individuals for immediate employment and professional advancement. It was the first in the nation to couple individual credentials/certifications with the ability to earn an associate degree.
---RCBI awards Haas Scholarships to new and returning students based on grade point average, attendance and other factors. For more information or to apply, contact Jill Goheen at goheen14@rcbi.org or 304.781.1678 or visit www.rcbi.org/machinist.
---Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation, America’s largest manufacturer of machine tools, established the foundation in 1999 to fund the needs of his local community.
Alumnus Brad D. Smith chosen
as Marshall's 38th president

---The Marshall University Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday, Oct. 28, to name alumnus, Wing 2 Wing Foundation co-founder and former Intuit CEO Brad D. Smith as the institution’s 38th president. Smith will assume the presidency Jan. 1, 2022.
---Since stepping down as CEO of Intuit in 2019, Smith has focused on unlocking economic and lifestyle prosperity for all West Virginians and beyond through the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, Alys.
---A native of Kenova, Smith’s commitment to giving back to West Virginia runs deep, and the work of the foundation has focused on providing educational and economic development resources to the Appalachian region, where many communities have been disproportionately affected by technological and economic change.
---During Smith’s 11-year tenure as Intuit’s CEO, he transformed the company’s business structure from a North American desktop software company to a global cloud-based platform with a portfolio that included TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint. The transformation was born from an innovation culture built around data-driven decision-making and rapid experimentation. The drive to innovate across all layers of the company
Brad D. Smith (right) and his wife, Alys, tour RCBI's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center during a visit to Marshall University's South Charleston campus earlier this month.
transformed the way Intuit was able to serve its consumers, small businesses and partners.
---This led to record growth that nearly doubled the company’s revenues, increased its stock price more than 500 percent and positioned Intuit as the industry leader.
Learn how your small business
can become a military contractor

---Small businesses across the region can learn about contracting opportunities with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during a free virtual workshop December 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. hosted by the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) at Marshall University.
---The event, featuring presentations by the Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs, the Regional Contracting Assistance Center (RCAC) and West Virginia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, is designed to educate small business owners and employees about procedures and guidelines for conducting business with these military branches and explain how to find upcoming contracting opportunities.
---In fiscal 2020, U.S. small businesses were awarded more than $135 billion in prime and subcontracts through the Department of Defense.
---“Only a small fraction of this $135 billion went to small businesses in West Virginia and the central Appalachian region,” said Derek Scarbro, RCBI deputy director. “We want to change that. This is a great opportunity to learn
about available contracting opportunities, how to become a vendor and what resources are available to help navigate the process.”
---Register for the December 8 webinar at
www.rcbi.org/navydec2021. For more information, contact RCAC’s Sommer Straight at sstraight@rcacwv.com or Scarbro at dscarbro@rcbi.org.
---RCBI is presenting Doing Business with the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps as part of the AIM Higher Consortium, a strategic initiative to strengthen the Defense supply chain in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit www.aimhigherconsortium.org.
Design Challenge is now open
for entries; $5,000 in prizes available
---Attention, makers of all ages, show us what you’ve got! Entries are now being accepted for the Tri-State Makes Festival’s Design Challenge, the centerpiece of RCBI’s annual celebration of creativity and ingenuity.
---Hobbyists, inventors, tinkerers, artists and students of all ages who enter the Design Challenge are eligible to win a share of the $5,000 in prizes, including the “Best of Show” grand prize. Participants should create a unique invention and submit a video no longer than 3 minutes by Dec. 2. explaining their creation and the making process. Enter at www.rcbi.org/makesfest2021/.
---Winners will be announced online during a live event Dec. 9.
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---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. Details will be released soon.
---To receive Makes Festival updates, submit your contact information here.
Philip Barbour High captures top honors in WV agriculture contest
---Philip Barbour High captured the Outstanding School Award and four of six individual prizes – including the grand championship – during the 2021 West Virginia Student Agriculture Innovation Challenge.
---Sponsored by RCBI, Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the yearly statewide competition recognizes the innovative ideas of middle and high school students for improving agricultural production and processes in the Mountain State.
---Alexis Ervin of Philip Barbour was crowned Grand Champion for her Bluetooth Creep Feeder, a phone app and monitoring system that allows farmers to remotely monitor feed levels and control the amount released to livestock.
---“As our winners demonstrate, young minds bring fresh perspectives to age-old issues,” said Charlotte Weber, RCBI director & CEO. “This challenge is a great opportunity for students to apply problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as they develop real-world solutions.”
Small Communities, Big Solutions
Conference kicks off November 15

---The Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia, the West Virginia Community Development Hub and Coalfield Development have teamed up once again to shine a spotlight on West Virginia, by hosting the Small Communities, Big Solutions Conference.
---This annual event showcases successful projects and highlights West Virginia change makers. The virtual event will run from Monday, Nov. 15, to Thursday, Nov. 18. Tickets are $25 per attendee and can be purchased here. 
---“With a sold-out crowd each year and overwhelmingly positive feedback from our attendees, we are building an unbelievable agenda with 60-plus national and state speakers, with different themes for each day: our economy, our health, our education and our communities,”
said Sara Payne Scarbro, the alliance’s operations council chair. “It is truly a great venue to learn about West Virginia and to see our opportunities moving forward.”
---The main goal for the event is to work toward a better, brighter West Virginia, ensuring the state reaches its potential. To do so, a mix of community leaders, educators, businesses and public officials come together to network, share ideas and celebrate what is working well in the Mountain State.
What can you do with a Swiss turn?
Mill, drill, turn & thread – for starters

---RCBI offers more than $21 million in manufacturing equipment for leased use by industry and individuals. Among the more versatile pieces of equipment is the Swiss turn in the Charleston Advanced Technology Center.
---Developed in Switzerland to create precision parts for watches, the Swiss turn 7-axis machining center is capable of continuously producing small, highly accurate pieces. Just how accurate? Within one micron (a human hair is about 70 microns thick)!
---“The magic of the Swiss turn is in the automation,” said Jerry Jefferson, CNC machinist and technical trainer. “After the initial set up, it allows for unattended operation because of its ability to self-feed the metal material into the machine, producing hundreds or thousands of parts without stopping.”
---RCBI clients recently have used the Swiss turn to make archery sights and specialized pins for car door hinges,
among other precision components. The equipment is ideal for creating nuts, bolts and customer fasteners of all types, Jefferson said.
---To learn more about the Swiss turn or any of the other technology available at RCBI, contact Eddie Webb, director of manufacturing services, at ewebb@rcbi.org or 304.720.7738.
We're searching for 5 dynamic individuals to join our team

---It takes a talented and dedicated group of individuals to deliver manufacturing assistance, workforce training and entrepreneurial support across West Virginia and beyond. That’s why we are looking for a few dynamic individuals to join the growing RCBI team.
---We have immediate openings for the following positions:
  • Director of Finance & Administration
  • Entrepreneur Services Director
  • Grant Writer
  • Machinist Technology Instructor
  • Workforce Recruiter
---All of the positions are full-time. To learn more and to apply, visit www.rcbi.org/jobs.
Federal Reserve survey to assess credit needs of small businesses

---Small businesses are critical to the U.S. economy. But data about them is limited — especially data on how and why small businesses seek financing.
---The Federal Reserve Banks are conducting a survey to better understand the financing needs of small businesses. The survey is open to businesses in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch.
---Questions ask about business conditions, financing needs and the effects of the pandemic. Responses are confidential, and small-business owners do not need to provide any personal information.
---The survey takes 10 minutes and is open to for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The deadline to respond is Nov. 19. Take the survey
We'll bring the welding training
and equipment to your location
---Our mobile welding lab is wrapped and ready to hit the road to deliver on-site customized welding training at your location. MIG, TIG, Stick, Flux-cored. No problem! We've got you covered. RCBI's experienced staff will train new hires or upskill existing workers.
---Contact Carol Howerton at carol.howerton@rcbi.org or 304.781.1680 to get started.
---The mobile welding lab is part of RCBI's Advanced Welding Workforce Initiative offered in conjunction with Mountwest Community & Technical College with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
U P C O M I N G-- E V E N T S

Nov. 3: How to Take Your Social Media from Good, to Great, to Awesome! online SBA workshop, 1-1:30 pm.
Nov. 4: How Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Can Access Federal Surplus Property, online SBA workshop, 2-3 pm.
Nov 10: Questions & Answers for Veteran Business Owners, online SBA workshop, noon-1 pm. More information
Nov. 15-18: Small Communities, Big Solutions Conference, virtual event, 9 am-3 pm. More information
Nov. 16: 3 Steps to Startup Venture Fair, TechConnectWV webinar, 9 am-noon. More information
Dec. 8: Doing Business with the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps, online, 1-3 pm. More information
Dec. 9: Tri-State Makes Festival, RCBI online event, 1-3 pm. More information