Sustainable Strategies DC is a government affairs & strategic consulting firm helping communities obtain resources for revitalization & key priorities.

Success: Maker Mayors Challenge


Client: Manufacturing Alliance of Communities

Project Name: Maker Mayors Challenge

Description: Sustainable Strategies DC took the lead in founding and managing the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, which worked with the White House, Congress and federal agencies to provide resources to localities seeking to boost manufacturing and the maker movement. 

Accomplishments:

  • Launched "Maker Mayors Challenge" with 99 mayors across the nation taking steps to boost the maker movement

  • Launched manufacturing initiatives with National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors

  • Developed and advocated for the creation of the "Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership," which was launched by the White House and led by the U.S. Department of Commerce

  • Coordinated manufacturing communities efforts to advocate for new federal legislation to promote new capital access programs for manufacturing entrepreneurs, job training for manufacturing workers and investment in innovative manufacturing technologies, which became law in 2017

National Technical Assistance to Bolster New Manufacturing on Old Brownfields


Client: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Project Name: New Manufacturing on Old Brownfields

Description: Sustainable Strategies DC created a guidebook to assist communities and businesses across America bolster manufacturing and support redevelopment and reinvestment on brownfield sites. This guide makes the case for siting advanced manufacturing facilities on brownfields by showcasing examples from three communities that are revitalizing brownfields for new manufacturing. It also includes resources to assist communities working to reuse brownfields for new manufacturing. 

Link to Guidebook:

Success: manufacturing in Pittsburgh, pA


Client: Catalyst Connection

Project Name: Greater Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturing Community

Description: Sustainable Strategies DC has helped Catalyst Connection secure multiple grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Benedum Foundation to promote making and manufacturing in the greater Pittsburgh region and beyond.  A $400,000 EDA grant helped Catalyst Connection launch the the Greater Pittsburgh-WV Metals Manufacturing Community partnership to boost the region's supply chains, infrastructure, workforce development, export, and capital access programs in the sector. 

Awards:

  • Two EDA Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership and Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Grants - $1,000,000 (2016, 2018)

  • Three ARC POWER Grants ($1,550,000) (2017, 2018)

MAKING & MANUFACTURING


Sustainable Strategies DC helps localities, non-profits and higher education institutions boost local and regional manufacturing and making sectors with resources, strategies and advocacy.  These efforts are boosting innovation, creating jobs and expanding economic development in communities that are transitioning to advanced economies and innovation sectors.  Sustainable Strategies DC's work has included coordinating strategies and leveraging resources for the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, the Mayors Auto Coalition, the federal Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership initiative, and other high-impact approaches.