NMC Members & Community Partner News

Cirtronics Receives IPC EMS Industry Service Award

Cirtronics received the EMS Industry Service Award at the IPC APEX EXPO 2022 in January. The IPC recognizes Cirtronics with “significant contributions to the industry in bringing together peers in [the] region and inspiring others to embrace advancements to remain competitive,” says IPC CEO John Mitchell.

Cirtronics has hosted a well-attended annual EMS dinner for over ten years, inviting colleagues and competitors from across the country. By gathering a collective group of experts in the industry to share successes and challenges facing the market, Cirtronics continues to be an example of how a company can support the greater good ethically and productively.

“We’re deeply committed to our suppliers, partners, and the industry as a whole,” says David Patterson, Cirtronics President and CEO. “We began over 40 years ago building boards. Now we build systems from the board level up to final complex assemblies. However, boards remain the heart of all electronic and electromechanical systems. And the health of the EMS industry—and manufacturing lines across the country– rely on collaborations, especially in challenging times like these.”

Mystic Seaport Plans Busy 2022

The Day; January 31, 2022

Stonington — After bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic with strong attendance figures in 2021, Mystic Seaport Museum officials are planning to unveil two major new exhibitions this year, improved food offerings and events and more opportunities for visitors to get out on the Mystic River in boats.

Museum Seaport President Peter Armstrong, who took over the helm of the museum one year ago, outlined these and many other initiatives during a conversation in his office last week.

"We're getting back on our feet after COVID. We're trying to provide a better maritime experience each year," he said. "Our goal is to be the leading maritime museum in the United States."

CTNext Call for Mentors

CTNext; January 20, 2022

This letter is being shared to help spread the word further. If you are interested, please reach out to Rachel. Her contact information is available below.

URI Research Foundation awarded Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant, will lead regional coalition to grow ‘blue economy’

$500K phase one planning grant makes Rhode Island eligible for up to $100M in challenge next phase

KINGSTON, R.I. – Dec. 13, 2021 – The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, in conjunction with Rhode Island Commerce and a regional team focused on the growing blue economy, has successfully competed against hundreds of regional teams across the country to be selected by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a finalist in the nation-wide Build Back Better Regional Challenge.

Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the finalists for the $1 billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” that aims to boost economic pandemic recovery and rebuild American communities. The Build Back Better Regional Challenge provides transformative investments – up to $100 million per grantee – to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters across the country, all while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally.

RDSI Receives 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award from US Department of Labor

RDSI; November 11, 2021

Middletown, RI – Nov. 11, 2021 – US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh recognized Research and Development Solutions, Inc., as one of the 849 recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during an award ceremony at the US Department of Labor. RDSI earned the Gold Award after applying earlier this year. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes job creators who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

“RDSI has been a trusted partner for our nation’s veterans from the founding of the company,” says John Evans, President of RDSI. “Our veterans on staff are an integral part of our team, bringing invaluable skills and passion to their roles strengthening our mission to provide leading engineering and programmatic solutions to the defense industry. We are honored to be recognized by the Department of Labor with this award, and we remain dedicated to being an exemplary veteran employer moving forward.”

EaglePicher® Announces Award for IARPA RESILIENCE Program for Advanced, Innovative Battery Technology Development

EaglePicher Technologies; October 20, 2021

EaglePicher^® Technologies, a leading innovator of battery power and energy storage systems for defense and aerospace announced today that the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) has awarded their team a contract award for innovative battery technology development.

The strategic partnership includes Conamix, a venture-backed battery materials, early stage development company based in Ithaca, NY, Ionic Materials, Inc. an innovator in solid state electrolyte materials based in Woburn, MA and EaglePicher.

The multi-year award is part of IARPA's Robust Energy Sources for Intelligence Logistics in Extreme Novel and Challenging Environments (RESILIENCE) program. The team, led by Conamix, will develop advanced high-energy density, long calendar life, sulfur-based batteries.

EaglePicher will design, model, and optimize the electrochemical cells and integrate them into a full battery system utilizing advanced manufacturing capabilities. Conamix will develop a new, nanostructured sulfur metal sulfide (SMS) hybrid cathode system, and Ionic Materials will incorporate its advanced protected lithium-metal anode (PLA) technology into the cell electrochemistry.

Ret. Navy Capt. Paul Whitescarver named director of seCTer

The Day; October 1, 2021

By Erica Mosher

The Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region board of directors announced Friday it has unanimously selected retired Navy Capt. Paul Whitescarver to serve as executive director of seCTer, effective Monday. Whitescarver is the former commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base in Groton.

Nancy Cowser had served as executive director of seCTer from late 2016 through June 30 of this year, when she left for a role at Mitchell College.

SeCTer is the region's designated nonprofit economic development organization, and its services include giving loans to small businesses, providing assistance to businesses interested in selling goods or services to government entities, and connecting developers with potential sites.

"What really appealed to me is the ability to work with all the municipalities, creating somewhat of a regional strategy," Whitescarver said.

More Articles...