Obama toured a center run by a nonprofit known as MAGNET, which counsels small- and medium-sized manufacturers. MAGNET is part of a national network of such advisory centers the president wants to expand with $158 million in competitive grants.
The president met representatives from local manufacturers that turn waste into fuel, make prosthetic skull implants and distill bourbon. Obama talked about his visit during his City Club remarks.
"Right before I came here, I went to MAGNET. It's a manufacturing incubator right here in Cleveland where smaller companies are making everything from airplane parts and medical devices to whiskey," Obama said. "I did not sample the whiskey before I came here, although I'm taking a sample home. And this partnership is bringing good manufacturing jobs back to Cleveland."
His administration also plans to set up a $75 million institute to research advanced textile manufacturing. It’s the latest in a series of centers that support innovative manufacturing. Youngstown is home to the first of these centers, which focused on 3D printing.
