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ECWRPC Receives Supplemental Funding Award for ORDIDI

ECWRPC has been awarded $188,798 in supplemental funding from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (DoD-OEA) to support the efforts of the ongoing Oshkosh Region Defense Industry Diversification Initiative (ORDIDI). This funding was allocated in response to the elimination of additional positions at the Oshkosh Corporation. ORDIDI projects are anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2015.

Since December 2013, ECWRPC has received over $2 Million in federal grants with the DoD-OEA, which includes sub-awards to the City of Oshkosh and UW-Oshkosh. With additional partnerships from entities including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), New North, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), and universities and technical colleges throughout the region, ORDIDI is the first step in providing assistance to companies and communities that have been affected by recent cutbacks in defense industry spending, particularly those connected to the Oshkosh Corp.

This grant is being used to undertake studies of specific initiatives aimed at assisting in the growth and expansion of new industry clusters to create an economy more resilient to changes in federal defense contracts. The initiatives include:

  • Charrette & Partner Education Training Seminar: Taking steps to create a more cohesive economic development ecosystem throughout the region that emphasizes communication, coordination and collaboration among stakeholders;
  • Aerospace Cluster Study: Developing research opportunities for advanced manufacturing in the newly developing aerospace industry cluster;
  • Accelerator & Growth Management Program: Facilitating the development of an aerospace business accelerator facility; and
  • Supply Chain Mapping & Direct Supplier Assistance: Mapping out the defense industry supply chain and providing assistance to Oshkosh Corp. suppliers to re-engage them in other industry sectors.

For additional information on this initiative, please visit the https://www.ecwrpc.org/2015/02/23/oshkosh-region-defense-industrydiversification-
initiative/ or contact Sarah Van Buren, Economic Development Planner.

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