Making Montana’s Future at the Mike Mansfield Advanced Technology Center

Regional Economic Development Conference

Regional Innovation Strategies SessionAugust 2016

Senator Mansfield’s Vision

• In the early 1970s, the Montana School of Mines, which Senator Mike Mansfield attended in the late 1920s, was in jeopardy of closing.

• Senator Mansfield responded by creating a Center of Excellence focused on clean coal research—Montana Energy Research and Development Institute in 1974.

• On the heels of the 40th anniversary and after $150 million of investment, the Mike Mansfield Advanced Technology Center has been reinvented as multi-use innovation hub.

• By leveraging past investment, the robust, flexible infrastructure is available to become an engine for economic development in Southwest Montana

Mission and Vision

• Mission MCMT increases manufacturing

activity in Montana by providing mentorship, knowledge, space, and infrastructure to small businesses, innovators, and researchers to take their products and processes to the next level

• Vision Become a recognized engine

for economic development in Montana and a key player in the resurgence of manufacturing in the US

Mansfield Prototyping Center Unique Connection to 2 gigabit per second

fiber optic network National lab infrastructure in small

town America—$150 million R&D facility

EDA awards under the i6 Challenge and Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership programs

Over 100,000 square feet of industrial/office space

20 MVA substation Rail spur Mansfield Makes makerspace—

metal working, fabric, electronics and the arts

National recognition on White House blog:https://m.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/05/11/rural-communities-rising-i6-challenge

MCMT’s “programs aim to foster an entrepreneurial culture that will allow small

businesses—the lifeblood of rural communities—to develop and grow.”

Mansfield Center touted as “Butte’s Secret Weapon for Economic Development”by Angelou Economics—http://mtstandard.com/news/local/county-mse-teaming-up-to-foster-entrepreneurship/article_65bea47c-7cc6-56a6-807c-105a3804484c.html-

Current Mansfield Center Tenants

—Anchor, engineering services, analytical laboratory and assembly of industrial control panels and SCADA hardware

—Anchor, bottles distilled spirits and manufactures boutique distillery equipmentEagle Engineering—Metallurgical Engineering firm —TEMPER process development skid

—tests fracking sand and other fracking materials for the oil and gas industry

Hellfire —embroidery business addressing supply chain n issue for several lifestyle clothing brands

Custom Embroidery

DigitizingWorld Domination

Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Grant Award• Economic Development Administration Program• $200,000 plus $200,000 match• Team

Butte Local Development OrganizationButte-Silver Bow city-county governmentCenter for Advanced Mineral Processing at Montana

TechHighlands CollegeMERDIMSE

IMCP Awards Highlights

• Leg Up Innovations—Medical device—“Captain Crutch”• technical support• 3-D printed prototypes• market testing with physical therapists and

patient• patent search and associated legal advice• development of a mold to mass produce the

product• Maternal Life International—Mobile Surgical Unit

• prototype fabricated by volunteers• Medical-grade equipment donated by local

hospital• Provides safe, sterile environment to deliver

babies or have other minor surgeries/medical procedures

Mobile Surgical Unit

i6 Challenge Grant Award• Economic Development Administration Program• Mansfield Protoyping Center and Mentorship Series• $150,000 plus $150,000 match• Team

MERDI Butte Local Development Organization Butte-Silver Bow city-county government MSE Montana Manufacturing Extension Center Montana Technology Innovation Partnership

Fabric, 3D Printing/Scanner, and Electronics Makerspace

Industrial Machine Shop Makerspace

Mentorship Program• Fast Flight Lean Lego—MMEC Workshop• Business Tax 101—Erik Nelson, CPA• Business Planning• NERD Night—Build a 3-D Printer—Coming

in September• UPTOP Mentorship Session—Starting and

Growing Your Small Business• Business Model Canvas

Mentorship Program• Leadership Training: Everyone Brings Something to the Fight

Modular Greenhouse

Boutique Distillery Stills/Control Systems

Lift Gate for Shipping Containers

Commercialization Assistance• Patent searches—Montana

Technology Innovation Partnership

• Proposal Writing Assistance for Local, State and Federal Programs

• Technical Assistance• Market Studies• Identification of Potential

Investors• “Keep it about the founders”• “Sell, Sell, Sell”

Lessons Learned

• Carefully screen applicants

• Coachability• Continuous tinkering on

prototypes• Realistic budget

expectations• Slipping schedules

Challenges

• Matching Funds• Pay It Forward• Makerspace

• Insurance/Liability• Holding Costs• Membership• Sponsorship

• Competition amongst EDOs

• Utilization of Mansfield Center

Innovative Approaches

• Popup Shops• Retail when appropriate• Traffic through available buildings• Product exposure

• Pay-It-Forward• Proto$fund• Provide training• Provide Mentorship

• Manufacturing Sector Partnership• Agencies take a back seat and listen• Workforce Issues

• Resource Guide for Entrepreneurs

Call to Action

• New economic development will come from within the community

• EDA IMCP and i6 Challenge grants have been key to foster entrepreneurship

• If investment in startups results in only a few successful businesses—game changer for Butte and Montana

• Start A New Business• Put your ideas into action• Create jobs• Utilize resources and programs• Start lean and fail fast

What Will Success Look Like?• Transformation of Mansfield Center into

innovation hub to maximize leverage of previous investment

• Upgraded Mansfield Center infrastructure—energy efficiency, new roofs, and HVAC systems

• New building on available land at Mansfield Center• Thriving manufacturing innovation hub with

expanding companies locating in the Montana Connections Business Park in Butte-Silver Bow’s Tax Increment Financing District

• New support and value-added businesses in manufacturing, natural resource, interconnectivity, and manufacturing key industry networks

• Sustainable, diversified economy in Southwest Montana

Transforming Mansfield Vision

Transformation Underway Previous investment in

Mansfield Center’s being leveraged to create an engine for economic development in Southwest Montana

Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) at Mansfield Center and surrounding area is near completion

From single project focus to multi-use innovation hub

Acknowledgements

ContactHelen O’Connor Joyce email: helen.joyce@mse-ta.com email: mcmt@mse-ta.comWebsite: manufacturingmt.comTwitter: @manufacturingmt