Leahy Secures First Major Client
For Bennington's New Microtechnology Center
...'A Key Pivot Point' For New Tech jobs In
Southern Vermont
...BCIC's Partnering With RPI CAT Instrumental
(NOTE: This press release was authored and
distributed by BCIC)
BENNINGTON, Vt. (Wed., Dec. 17) – Sen. Patrick Leahy and the
Bennington County Industrial Corporation (BCIC) Wednesday announced
that the Bennington Microtechnology Center (BMC) has secured its
first major client after years of planning by the BCIC and local,
state and federal lawmakers. Leahy and BCIC leaders herald the
contract as a crucial early success for the Center that promises to
bring high-tech businesses and jobs to Southern Vermont.
Leahy set aside $3.5 million within the U.S. Office of Naval
Research to develop high-tech microsystem technologies for Navy use.
Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee,
secured the funds during consideration of the Department of
Defense’s annual budget bill.
“This is a major new pivot point for the Center,” said Leahy. “A
lot of work is going into developing this technology niche that will
bring new jobs and economic growth to Southern Vermont. Other
high-tech firms will take note of the Navy’s reliance on the
expertise and the quality of life that Southern Vermont has to
offer.”
The Center -- planned for North Bennington -- will supply
state-of-the-art space, equipment, and know-how to firms and
entrepreneurs wishing to test and manufacture high performance
microdevices and machines. Intellectual horsepower will be furnished
and guided primarily by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Center for Automation Technologies (CAT)1.
Bennington County Industrial Corporation (BCIC) executive
director Lance Matteson said he and his team have been working with
partner stakeholders on the project for almost a year. "We had been
struggling to initiate a major advanced technology project here, and
formulating some ideas. Then, about a year ago, at a BCIC board
meeting, State Senator Mark Shepard2 introduced us to Harry
Stephanou and Beth Wales from the "CAT"3 at RPI. They were open to
supporting not only technology firms here but BCIC's technology
initiative, and when we approached Senator Leahy with our
microtechnology idea, he offered any help we needed, and he
delivered us our first client. Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and
House Speaker Walt Freed have also been vigorous supporters."
Governor Douglas said, "Helping companies create jobs is the top
priority of my administration. The BCIC-RPI project is a vital
component of my recently announced job creation strategy, which will
identify and target cluster areas in the state where businesses can
expand or locate. This microtechnology partnership will be critical
to developing high-tech jobs in southern Vermont. Therefore I'm
committed to earmarking state funds for this project in my budget
this year and I am thankful for Senator Leahy's efforts for
delivering key federal funding for this project and for State
Senator Mark Shepard for initiating this contact.”
Matteson noted that Norwich University, with its National Center
for the Study of Counter Terrorism and Cybercrime, has been a key
early partner and will be represented on the new nonprofit entity's
board of directors. Leahy last year secured the federal charter for
the new center at Norwich. Matteson related, "I contacted Norwich
President Rich Schneider, whom I'd known when he was on the VEPC4
board. In a few days, Phil Susmann and Tom Aldrich5 were engaged in
the project. They've spent a lot of time helping to spark our
enthusiasm and have given us a lot of practical help."
University of Vermont6 (UVM) President Dan Fogel has also been
warmly supportive of the project, and cites the BMC as an example of
the kind of true technology commercialization and jobs incubation
UVM seeks to support.
Besides defense and homeland security applications, there is a
growing demand in the commercial market place for a variety of micro
devices and systems. This includes tiny -- sometimes barely visible
-- sensors, valves, pumps, robots, and assorted
"micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)".
Vermont and the Bennington region have a long history of
innovation and manufacture of machine and tool technologies. The
aspiration is to take that inventive tradition to the next level of
advancement, with the help of top-flight research and development
know-how such as that found at RPI CAT.
Another dimension to the project is economic development in the
larger region. For example, nurturing a technology corridor
along Vermont Route 9 and New York Route 7 between Bennington, Vt.,
and Troy, N.Y., would benefit businesses and job seekers in both
states.
Firms or individuals wishing to inquire about the BMC's services
and capabilities should contact Peter Odierna at 802-442-8975 or
Beth Wales at 518-276-6953.
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