Penn State has been awarded a $39.9 million federal grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to establish the DuBois Center for Innovation (DCI) Regional Manufacturing Hub. The hub will be designed to transform and grow north central Pennsylvania's manufacturing economy and accelerate innovation in the region's industry for pressed materials - a specialized field of manufacturing that transforms fine metal and other material powders into high-performance components and products through processes involving pressure, heat and advanced technologies. The center will also support the creation of new pathways for workforce development and business growth.
The federal investment will support the redevelopment of facilities in DuBois and the creation of a regional advanced manufacturing and workforce hub serving Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties. The initiative is expected to leverage additional public and private commitments, including up to $150 million in potential investment from industry partner Bunting Magnetics & Magnetic Applications, bringing the total potential economic impact associated with the project to nearly $200 million.
The investment represents a significant step toward positioning north central Pennsylvania as a national center for advanced materials innovation, manufacturing commercialization and workforce development, explained Douglas Wolfe, associate vice president for research and director of strategic initiatives at Penn State, who will serve as principal investigator for the project.
By connecting the region's established industrial base with new research capabilities, emerging technology and private investment, the initiative is designed to help existing manufactures grow, attract new companies and create high-quality employment opportunities through the six-county region.
The project is led by Penn State and includes a coalition of regional partners, including the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, Workforce Solutions for North Central PA, the DuBois Educational Foundation, North Central PA LaunchBox, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Pressed Materials Consortium with more than 30 industry partners.
"This investment represents an opportunity to strengthen one of Pennsylvania's most important manufacturing clusters while accelerating economic development in a region that has faced long-term economic challenges," said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State, whose office oversees the University's entrepreneurship and commercialization efforts. "The DuBois Center for Innovation will provide the United States the domestic pressed materials production needed for a strategic manufacturing capability essential to economic and national security and technological leadership, while creating opportunities for businesses and workers across north central Pennsylvania."
North central Pennsylvania is home to one of the nation's largest concentrations of pressed materials manufacturers, with 64 companies representing approximately 43% of industry employment nationwide, Wolfe said. These companies produce critical components used in manufacturing sectors ranging from automotive and industrial machinery to aerospace, energy, defense and medical technologies.
"This is about turning a challenge into an opportunity for DuBois and the entire region," said U.S. Senator Dave McCormick. "I'm proud to have helped push this project forward and am grateful to Secretary [of Commerce] Lutnick for investing in Pennsylvania's future. This is a major win for Pennsylvania workers."
The federal investment will support five coordinated initiatives:
- Modernization and redevelopment of facilities in DuBois to house advanced manufacturing laboratories, training centers and collaborative research space
- Creation of the region's first shared applied research and development center focused on pressed materials innovation
- Development of industry-driven workforce training programs, apprenticeships and advanced manufacturing credentials
- Expansion of entrepreneurship, commercialization and business-growth services
- Establishment of a long-term ecosystem to coordinate industry collaboration, investment attraction and economic development efforts
"This project will significantly enhance the regional talent pipeline and global competitiveness in an area facing persistent workforce shortages," said U.S. Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson. "The DCI will reduce development timelines and accelerate the commercialization of new materials. The inclusion of coordinated R&D, upskilling opportunities, and private-sector partnerships further demonstrates a commitment to reducing long-term operational risks and improving regional economic resilience."
The hub aims to help manufacturers expand into high-growth sectors, including aerospace, defense, medical devices and energy, while integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and digital manufacturing tools into production and product development processes.
"This investment represents a defining opportunity for north central Pennsylvania and the future of our manufacturing economy," said Amy Kessler, community development/regional planning director of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. "For years, our regional partners and manufacturers have worked together to identify opportunities to strengthen this industry, attract investment and create new economic opportunities. The DuBois Center for Innovation moves that strategy into action, connecting our existing manufacturing strengths with the research, technology, workforce and business development resources needed to compete nationally and globally. This is more than an investment in a facility. It is an investment in the future of our six-county region, our businesses and the next generation of workers."
By connecting the region's established industrial base with new research capabilities, emerging technologies and private investment, the initiative is designed to help existing manufacturers grow, attract new companies and create high-quality employment opportunities.
"This initiative is about creating opportunity for workers and communities across north central Pennsylvania," said Pam Streich, executive director of Workforce Solutions for North Central PA. "By aligning training programs directly with employer needs and emerging technologies, we're creating pathways into manufacturing careers while helping employers address critical workforce shortages."
The project includes plans to train hundreds of workers, expand apprenticeship opportunities and help manufacturers adopt new technologies that improve productivity and competitiveness. Workforce goals include training approximately 150 workers annually by year five, supporting 50 apprentices within three years and contributing to the creation of 200 jobs at regional companies.
"Magnet Applications has made magnets in DuBois since 1992 and is the only U.S. makers of bonded neodymium magnets," said Robert Bunting, president and CEO of Bunting Magnetics Co. and Magnet Applications Inc. "The DuBois Center for Innovation gives our engineers and Penn State researchers one place to work on what comes next: finishing rare-earth magnets here for defense, aerospace and energy customers. That means skilled manufacturing jobs in north central Pennsylvania and a magnet supply chain America controls."
Construction and facility redevelopment activities are expected to begin in the coming months, with the DuBois Center for Innovation projected to become fully operational within approximately 16 months.
The center will be located in the DuBois Educational Foundation Building on the Penn State DuBois campus. As Penn State prepares for the previously announced closure of the campus following the spring 2027 semester, the initiative will establish a new, long-term role for the facility in supporting regional industry, workforce development and economic growth. The building is expected to transfer in ownership to the DuBois Educational Foundation as part of the project's implementation.
"The Economic Development Administration will make targeted investments to catalyze private-sector investments and help disaster-impacted communities economically recover by transforming local industries so they are primed for long-term growth," U.S. EDA Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Ben Page said in a news release, referring to Tropical Storm Debby, which impacted the region in 2024. "This project will support rebuilding efforts within affected communities while changing the trajectory of their regional economies to drive sustained economic prosperity for years to come."
