The following is a press announcement from Congressman Paul Cook:
The IMCP helps accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in regions across the country. It rewards communities that best highlight their strengths and demonstrate they can combine their efforts around workforce training, infrastructure and research centers to implement an economic development plan that will attract, retain, and expand manufacturing investment.
Along with Cook, the bipartisan letter included Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Temecula), Rep. Gary Miller (R-Redlands), Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino), Rep. Ed Royce (R-Orange), and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Springs).
The members write, “We are writing to express our support for the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Proposal for Designation as a ‘Manufacturing Community’ (Docket No. 131121981-3981) in preparation for future federal investments through the Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP). The Inland Empire Manufacturing Community described in the attached proposal offers the infrastructure and manufacturing strength, supplier networks, workforce, innovation ecosystem, private and government partnership and leadership to maximally benefit from a Manufacturing Community designation.”
The University of California, Riverside Center for Economic Development and Innovation is leading the application, which would give Riverside and San Bernardino counties preferential consideration for up to $1.3 billion in federal dollars and assistance from 10 federal agencies.
For more information, please visit: eda.gov/challenges.
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A member of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Cook served as an infantry officer and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
