ABOUT US

1.             Renaissance Councils:  The bill will support the creation of a new
corporation that will lead to the creation of 30 Manufacturing Renaissance
Councils (MRCs) that will be supported for the following work to design and
implement the following programs.

2.             Anchor Institutions:  Provide a program of capacity building
and technical assistance to institutions of higher education and local
government to bring together diverse stakeholders who commit sourcing to local
companies whenever possible to generate a predictable demand for local
companies in order to create community wealth building strategies.

3.             Create Early Warning Systems:  Proactive outreach to companies facing
closure risks to identify short and long-term technical and financial needs.
This outreach would be designed to gather public data and information from
employees and service providers to identify problems that can be solved before
they constitute a crisis. These activities may include:

A.            Providing assistance to employers in managing
reductions in force, which may include early identification of firms at risk of
layoffs, and an assessment of the needs of and options for at-risk firms.

B.            Funding feasibility studies to determine if the
operations of a company may be sustained through a buyout or other means to
avoid or minimize layoffs.

C.            Partnering or contracting with business-focused
organizations to assess risks to companies, propose strategies to address those
risks, implement services, and measure impacts of services delivered.

D.            Conducting analyses of the suppliers of an
affected company to assess their risks and vulnerabilities from a potential
closing or shift in production of their major customer.

E.            Engaging in proactive measures to identify
opportunities for potential economic transition in growing industry sectors or
expanding businesses.

4.             Ownership Succession:  Develop acquisition and ownership succession
strategies for firms, firms that are scheduled to be sold or relocated, and
strategically or geographically important firms with a focus on worker
ownership, ownership by black, Indigenous and people of color, and women
ownership. Such strategies may include the following:

A.            Technical and business assistance to employers
facing succession risk and research and market analysis on businesses facing
succession risk.

B.            Recruitment of private investment capital and
serving as a liaison between firms and potential buyers who commit to maintain
production in the MRC jurisdiction.

C.            Training of minority and women business
entrepreneurs and employee ownership groups.

D.            Providing financial assistance for employee
ownership conversions.

5.             Capital Access:  The MRCs will facilitate the development of
publicly owned financial institutions, including publicly owned banks, holding
companies, investment and asset management firms, revolving loan funds, and
insurance pools that share the objectives of the national manufacturing strategy
to support the growth of a robust local manufacturing ecosystem, including the
following:

A.            Providing funds for capitalization, start-up and
operational financing, start-up technical and legal assistance and other
services as needed to create, and others at the discretion of the MRC.

B.            Working with community development financial
institutions and other local lenders to provide financial products and services
to small and medium manufacturers, for the purposes of facility development,
purchase of new equipment and technology, and expansion to new markets.

C.            
Providing grants and loans for commercial real
estate development for business incubators and industrial parks, including
expenses for environmental remediation.

6.             Education Programs to close the Skills Gap:  Education programs in public prekindergarten,
elementary schools, and secondary schools that focus on creating pathways for people
of color, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in
manufacturing preparing for careers at all levels with the company, including
production, engineering, product development, management, financial management,
and ownership. Programs must integrate environmental concerns into the
curriculum and activities. Apprenticeship programs will be developed to ensure
an adequate pool of instructors for all aspects of the education infrastructure
ensuring that manufacturing instructors are technologically, culturally, and
pedagogically competent. Resources and training for pedagogically, culturally,
and technologically competent instructors for career education,
pre-apprenticeship, skills training, and community college programs in local
public prekindergarten, elementary schools, and secondary schools.

7.             Training Services:  Workforce pipeline activities, developed in
coordination with each local workforce development board established in section
107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3122), that may include any of the
following:

A.            Occupational skills training, including training
for nontraditional employment.

B.            Programs that combine workplace training with
related instruction.

C.            Skill upgrading and retraining.

D.            Entrepreneurial training.

E.            Adult education and literacy activities,
including activities of English language acquisition and integrated education
and training programs, provided concurrently or in combination with services
described in any of clauses

F.            Customized training conducted with a commitment
by an employer or group of employers to employ targeted populations.

G.            Paid and unpaid work experiences that have as a
component academic and occupational education, which may include:

                                 
1)               summer employment opportunities and other
employment opportunities available throughout the school year;

                                 
2)               pre-apprenticeship programs;

                                 
3)               internships and job shadowing;

                                 
4)               youth apprenticeships.

                                 
5)               Leadership development opportunities, which may
include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging
responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors, as appropriate

                                 
6)               supportive services; and

                                 
7)               adult mentoring.

                                 
8)               Manufacturing awareness and stem programs
targeting elementary schools and middle schools.

8.             Wrap Around Services:  Provide grants to local governments and community-based
organizations for supportive services including

A.            the provision of direct support services (such
as childcare, transportation, mental health, and substance use disorder
treatment), assistance in obtaining health insurance coverage, and assistance
in accessing the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special supplemental
nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), housing, and other benefits, as
appropriate; and

B.            
offering career pathway navigation and case
management services, including providing information and outreach to target
populations to encourage individuals to take part in programs and service
offerings.

C.            
Provide non-traditional manufacturing
populations (such as women, Black, Indigenous, and Latino entrepreneurs) with
targeted support through

                                 
1)               
leadership development programs including
mentoring and affinity groups;

                                 
2)               
curriculum development for diversity, equity,
and inclusion trainings; and

                                 
3)               
delivery of free or low-cost equity training and
planning for companies.

9.             
Funding and Technical Assistance for
Manufacturing Renaissance Councils:  The
Corporation shall provide grants and technical assistance to MRCs in
identifying, monitoring, evaluating, and implementing activities that show
promise towards the goals of the Corporation and the national manufacturing
strategy, as determined by the Board.