Obama announces new textile manufacturing innovation competition

President Barack Obama announced a competition called the “Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute” for a $150 million public-private investment in a new textile manufacturing innovation institute on Wednesday to strengthen U.S. manufacturing by investing in new technology.

It is the ninth manufacturing innovation institute competition launched by the Obama administration. The institute aims to ensure that America remains at the leading edge of fiber science, according to The White House. It will be open to leading manufacturers, universities and nonprofit organizations.

The Obama administration has put aside a $75 million public investment that will be matched by more than $75 million of private investment for researching, prototyping and commercializing fibers with “extraordinary properties.”

According to the National Council of Textile Organizations, between 1997 and 2009 about 650 textile plants closed in the U.S., which cost thousands of Americans jobs,

After a decade of decline in U.S. manufacturing during the 2000s, the American textile industry is adding jobs for the first time in two decades, increasing shipments by nearly a fifth since the recession and winning globally with a 45 percent increase in exports since 2009, the White House said, according to WWD.

The announcement builds on momentum in American textile manufacturing and lays the foundation for future leadership in the production of sophisticated fibers and textile technologies.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment at the country’s textile mills went up to 233,900 in February from 230,700 a year before.
According to NCTO, almost 65 U.S. textile-related projects are in the works with an investment value in excess of $1.39 billion. This includes 32 projects worth $999 million in just Georgia and North Carolina alone.

Recent Posts

University of Copenhagen develops nanofibre patch for psoriasis treatment

Researchers have created an innovative nanofibre patch that aims to simplify and improve the treatment of psoriasis, a common skin…

3 days ago

Clothing 2.0, The Marena Group to revolutionize medical garments

Clothing 2.0 has teamed up with The Marena Group LLC, a leader in medical-grade compression garments to transform the recovery…

3 days ago

Polartec expands eco-friendly weather protection fabrics

Polartec has enhanced its Power Shield range, as it continues to replace petroleum-based materials with renewable alternatives while improving fabric…

3 days ago

Uncaged Innovations partners to launch leather alternative

Biomaterial company, Uncaged Innovations, has collaborated with ten independent fashion brands to launch Elevate, a new eco-friendly luxury leather alternative.

4 days ago

Rudolf enhances digital pigment printing

Rudolf introduced the Digital Pigment Printing Toolbox, a package of pre-treatment products to improve the quality and sustainability of pigment…

4 days ago

Aquafil Group unveils sustainable yarns

Aquafil Group, the innovator behind ECONYL regenerated nylon, has launched the ECONYL Bespoke Collection that mimic the aesthetics of natural…

4 days ago