CONTACT: Jenna Wines
jwines@vamanufacturers.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2026
Regional Collaboration Supports AM² Tech Hub Grant
-Targeted Investment Strengthens Advanced Manufacturing & Workforce Alignment-
RICHMOND, VA—The Virginia Manufacturers Association and its affiliated workforce partner, the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI), are proud to support and participate in Virginia’s AM² (Additive Manufacturing & Advanced Materials) Tech Hub, a collaborative, multi‑region initiative focused on advancing manufacturing innovation and workforce alignment across the New River Valley, Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Southern Virginia regions.
The AM² Tech Hub is designed to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing and advanced materials technologies while strengthening talent pipelines aligned with industry demand. Supported by a $4.2 million GO Virginia investment and a pending $44 million proposal to the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs Program, AM² brings together manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and economic development partners to drive long‑term growth and resiliency in Virginia’s manufacturing economy.
As a statewide industry association, the Virginia Manufacturers Association plays a critical role in connecting manufacturers to AM² resources, ensuring employers are positioned to benefit from emerging technologies, workforce initiatives, and innovation support. Through its participation in AM², the Association supports manufacturer engagement, apprenticeship development, and alignment between advanced manufacturing innovation and real‑world production needs.
The Manufacturing Skills Institute is collaborating with regional partners and employers to develop nationally recognized industry certifications in additive manufacturing that can be incorporated into higher education institutions. In addition, MSI is working with industry and workforce partners to develop a framework for registered apprenticeship that supports additive manufacturing and advanced materials occupations, helping establish consistent, industry‑validated career pathways.
“Virginia’s manufacturers need solutions that integrate technology with workforce readiness at the regional level,” said Wes Smith, Workforce Development Director for the Virginia Manufacturers Association. “AM² represents a coordinated approach that helps manufacturers in the New River Valley, Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Southern Virginia innovate while aligning education, credentials, and apprenticeship pathways to real industry demand.”
The AM² initiative reflects a shared commitment to supporting manufacturers through collaboration, innovation, and employer‑driven workforce alignment. By coordinating technology deployment with credential and apprenticeship framework development, AM² strengthens manufacturing competitiveness while supporting sustainable economic growth.
The Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Manufacturing Skills Institute look forward to continued collaboration with AM² partners as the initiative advances its mission to position Virginia as a leader in additive manufacturing and advanced materials.
Learn more about Virginia’s AM² Tech Hub.
About the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA)
The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) is the unified voice of Virginia’s manufacturing sector, advocating for public policies that strengthen the Commonwealth’s business climate and supporting manufacturers through a wide range of workforce, professional development, and business services. The VMA works to advance a competitive manufacturing economy by engaging industry leaders, policymakers, and partners to ensure manufacturers in Virginia can innovate, grow, and succeed.
About the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI)
The Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) equips today’s workforce—and tomorrow’s leaders—with the skills that drive success in advanced manufacturing. Through world‑class training, industry credentials, assessments, and consulting delivered by MSI master trainers and its trusted education partners, learners gain job‑ready expertise aligned directly with real employer needs. Every MSI program is guided by manufacturers who define the skills and competencies that matter most. From customized workforce assessments and talent strategies to hands‑on, classroom, and online training, MSI helps manufacturers boost productivity, shorten the time to talent, and create clear pathways for career advancement. When performance matters, MSI delivers measurable skills that work.