Professor Christopher Williams (at center), an internationally recognized expert in 3D printing, is the founding director of Virginia Tech Made: The Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
A $4.2 million investment from GO Virginia, matched by more than $2 million in regional support, will help Southwest and Southern Virginia create jobs, connect more students to manufacturing careers, and build on the region’s growing strength in advanced manufacturing.
Led by the New River Valley Regional Commission and supported by Virginia Tech and partners across GO Virginia Regions 2 and 3, the initiative is expected to create 100 jobs in its first two years and help develop a workforce pipeline to manufacturing and technology careers.
The project focuses on additive manufacturing and advanced materials, or AM2, a fast-evolving field with applications in industries such as aerospace and energy. It will help companies test new technologies and processes, shorten the path from idea to production, and connect employers with a stronger pipeline of talent.
The investment builds on years of regional planning, growing regional industry and economic development partnerships, Virginia Tech’s leadership in AM2 research, including Virginia Tech Made: The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and related university infrastructure.
“GO Virginia has been a terrific partner by championing and investing in our most promising opportunities in the New River Valley. Its support is advancing what we do as a region,” said Kevin Byrd, executive director of the New River Valley Regional Commission. “Over the next several years, we’re excited to see the number of AM2-made products grow as we streamline adoption of these technologies and lead the nation in developing a skilled workforce.”
Accelerating innovation
At the center of the effort are new AM2 Innovation Studios, where companies will have access to tools, expertise, and facilities to design, refine, and test products and processes.
At Virginia Tech, existing labs and machinery at the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science’s Matter Labs will support small-scale testing. That work will help companies prove concepts earlier and reduce uncertainty before moving toward production. A second site at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville will focus on production-scale testing in real-world conditions.
The initiative will also place AM2 Innovation Fellows in regional manufacturing companies to help speed the adoption of advanced technologies and move products to market more quickly. Led by the Roanoke-Blacksburg Innovation Alliance, Virginia Tech’s Launch: Center for New Ventures, VTC Ventures, SOVA Innovation Hub, and The Launch Place, the fellows will connect companies with practical support in areas such as additive manufacturing, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Developing the workforce
A major focus of the initiative is workforce development. Through the AM2 Career Network, partners will create new pathways for students and workers, from high school curriculum to paid internships and apprenticeships.
The Career Network will develop career and technical education curriculum to address gaps in ninth and 10th grade programming, create apprenticeships, and place at least 25 paid interns with regional companies. In its first two years, the initiative is expected to generate 100 jobs through business attraction and company expansions.
Virginia Manufacturers Association & Manufacturing Skills Institute will develop the first industry-certified AM2 credential in the nation in collaboration with Central Virginia Community College, Danville Community College, New River Community College, Patrick & Henry Community College, Virginia Western Community College, and IALR’s Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program.
Building a regional hub
The AM2 Consortium will coordinate the region’s advanced manufacturing efforts and identify new growth opportunities by bringing together manufacturers, service providers, and economic development organizations.
The consortium will help guide strategy and align resources around industry needs. Partners will work directly with manufacturers through one-on-one meetings to assess their readiness to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies and identify practical next steps.
The Center for Economic and Community Engagement, part of Outreach and International Affairs, will support coordination and strategy, working closely with the New River Valley Regional Commission. The center will also lead economic development research by analyzing manufacturing market trends, mapping companies’ readiness to adopt advanced technologies, and benchmarking the initiative’s progress. Additional work includes developing educational materials and online tools that illustrate career pathways in advanced manufacturing.
“This is about creating a more connected, competitive advanced manufacturing ecosystem,” said Sarah Lyon-Hill, director of research development at the Center for Economic and Community Engagement. “When we align our strengths across regions and institutions, we can do far more together than we ever could alone.”
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