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Southwestern Pennsylvania wins $62.7M ‘Build Back Better’ federal grant for robotics projects

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh region has been selected to receive $62.7 million in federal funding as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. It’s just one of 21 locations around the country that won such funding, which the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative — the 11-county represented receiver of the funds — hopes to use for five grant-funding projects involving robotics-related developments.

All five of these projects are intended to provide long-term opportunities for people, businesses and communities in the region looking to get into the growing robotics and autonomy industries.

“This includes expanded opportunities for women and people of color, as well as provide geographic equity throughout the region,” Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, said in a prepared statement. “The grant also puts a plan in motion for the adoption of robotics and AI technologies across a vast portfolio of existing businesses — of every size and in all corners of the region — and seeks to leverage our base of manufacturers to build robust local supply chains.”

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