Lorain County Community College is among a group of more than 70 regional partners chosen to help bring in up to $160mn in federal funding in advanced manufacturing to Northeast Ohio over the next 10 years.
Case Western Reserve University disclosed on July 14, 2026, in a press release that the Northeast Ohio coalition it leads was chosen by the U.S. National Science Foundation, or NSF, as a Regional Innovation Engine area, enabling funding to support a plan so as to grow the sector and create several thousand jobs.
The NEO-SMART program, or Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology, involves a combination of private businesses, government organizations, nonprofit groups, and institutions of higher education. It will help strengthen the advanced manufacturing industry of the region in electric vehicles and robotics as well as computer chip and semiconductor production by coordinating financing and strategic planning.
According to the vice president of Strategic and Institutional Development for LCCC, who told The Chronicle-Telegram, “This coalition really wanted to bring all regional partners together, from research to industry to universities as well as economic and workforce development. Lorain County Community College is committed to leading the workforce strategy of this transformational effort that will support thousands of jobs as well as companies growing here in Northeast Ohio.”
It is well to be noted that the partners in the program had already pledged $120 million, Case said, and the alliance hoped to draw in another $500 million in investment in addition to up to $160mn in federal funding the region could get.
If the group secures the highest amount of NSF funding allowed for it, the region will be awarded $7.5 million in each of the first two years, $15 million a year for the next three years, and, thereafter, $20 million in each of the last five years as various project objectives are achieved.
Says Gov. Mike DeWine in a news release, “This is great news for Northeast Ohio and for the entire state of Ohio. When federal dollars come to our state to strengthen manufacturing and build up our workforce, every Ohioan benefits — and I am grateful for the extensive partnership effort that made this award possible.”
Interestingly, Lorain County Community College is a key member of the coalition, with LCCC President Marcia Ballinger serving as one of the project’s directors and a chief investigator and also a member of NEO-SMART’s board.
As per a statement by Ballinger, “This is a defining moment for Northeast Ohio and a powerful affirmation of what is possible when our region comes together around a shared vision,” Ballinger said in a statement. As a founding partner and member of the NEO-SMART Governing Board, Lorain County Community College is proud to play a leadership role in advancing the Engine’s workforce strategy. We are committed to working alongside our partners to build the talent that will power advanced manufacturing and our region’s economic future. Together, we’re creating more opportunities for people, more skilled talent for employers, and a stronger, more competitive Northeast Ohio.”
The college is well-positioned to spearhead the coalition’s workforce development initiatives, given its long history as a leader in education related to advanced manufacturing and particularly the manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems, also known as MEMS. Microchips are collectively referred to as microelectromechanical systems.
It is worth noting that LCCC began the program in 2013 with Johnny Vanderford as program coordinator, and the college continues to provide the only bachelor’s program in MEMS in the state. Since then, the college has introduced a bachelor’s program in smart industrial automated systems engineering technology as well as an associate degree in multicraft industrial maintenance.
Green says, “Lorain County and the entire Northeast Ohio region have such deep roots in manufacturing. And with the rise of new technologies, whether it’s advanced materials, automation, robotics, or digital technologies, there is a renaissance in the space, and the opportunities are here and will be here in abundance… This is a sweet spot for community colleges, especially Lorain County Community College, with our track record in developing a workforce for advanced manufacturing that not only meets employers’ needs but also provides wonderful employment opportunities for our students.”
The Case press release outlined some of the specific objectives of the program, claiming the coalition would use the existing industries from Ohio in metals and polymers as well as chemicals to establish the region as a national hub when it comes to advanced manufacturing, incorporating artificial intelligence into design and automation along with robotics.
Apparently, the coalition is looking to generate or retain 20,000 jobs in the 18-county region and educate 12,000 new workers for the high-tech manufacturing field in a subsequent decade.
NEO-SMART will additionally strive to enhance the local supply chain in the automotive, aerospace, defense as well as medical sectors; boost corporate research and development expenditures by 50%; and bolster corporate-academic alliances in order to enable the establishment of hundreds of new start-up companies.
Eric Kaler, Case Western Reserve University president, said in the release that “The manufacturing challenges of the next decade will be solved by academic researchers, industry partners, and factory floor teams who work in collaboration to turn scientific insights into commercial realities. We are tremendously grateful for the extraordinary support and advocacy we received from federal, state, and local elected officials that led to this funding opportunity. Together, we will advance the region’s growth and prosperity.”
Notably, the Northeast Ohio coalition was one of 12 recipient groups for the NSF Engine program, which is a federal program that encourages investment into research, development, and sustainable industries throughout the country, like in artificial intelligence, medicine, mining, and seafood as well as defense.