The City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, NASA, and MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network have revealed the names of eight small and mid-size manufacturers who will receive help from NASA subject-matter experts through the 2016 Adopt a City program.

The winners were announced Tuesday, May 24 at the 2016 NASA Glenn Technology Day, a large event featuring speakers, exhibits, and tours that celebrated the center’s 75th anniversary and the legacy of NASA’s innovation and expertise.

In addition to 40 hours of technical assistance, the eight finalists are also eligible for up to $50,000 in low-interest loans provided by the City and County.

Companies selected include:

1. AlSher APM LLC (Cleveland)
2. Arzel Zoning Technology Inc. (Warrensville Heights)
3. Enerco Group Inc. (Cleveland)
4. Health-Mor Inc. (Strongsville)
5. Hunt Imaging (Berea)
6. Infinite Arthroscopy Inc. Ltd. (Cleveland Heights)
7. NSL Analytical Services Inc. (Warrensville Heights)
8. Sustainable Coatings Inc. (Strongsville)

More than 40 manufacturers expressed interest in applying for the program during an orientation breakfast held at MAGNET in late January.

“Local manufacturing companies can make a difference in the economy,” said NASA Glenn Director Janet Kavandi. “Assisting these manufacturers with world-class expertise from Glenn’s experts is an opportunity for these companies to grow the economy by making significant revenue or job creation possible.”

“We’re very pleased with the continuing success of this program as well as our partnerships with NASA, the City of Cleveland, and Cuyahoga County,” said MAGNET President and CEO Ethan Karp. “Manufacturers who take advantage of the resources offered as a result of this collaboration will see success in many forms – not just within their companies, but within the region as well.”

“NASA is a valued partner for our region and the Adopt-A-City program has been recognized for its efforts to support local high tech industries,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

“The Adopt a City program continues to be a huge success year after year,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. “With this program in place, our county can continue to support and develop manufacturing companies, which in turn will create high quality jobs for our residents.”

Since 2012, the Adopt a City program has helped 14 companies in Northeast Ohio with challenges ranging from flaws in production to product optimization, leading to the creation and retention of 59 jobs in the region. Adopt a City has also generated more than $6.1 million in revenue, resulting in $831,000 in cost savings and over 752,000 units sold.

One business that largely benefited from the program in its first incarnation was Pile Dynamics, a manufacturer of foundational testing equipment located in Solon, Ohio. The company utilized NASA technology and expertise to fix a moisture problem with concrete temperature sensors found under a bridge in downtown Cleveland. In addition to experiencing subsequent growth, company leaders spoke at the White House in front of federal laboratories on the importance and success of the public-private partnership.

“Our company has made huge strides forward as a result of our work with NASA and MAGNET,” said Pile Dynamics CEO Greg Piscsalko, “We truly see this as a national model, and we’re excited that Cleveland is making headlines for this exciting initiative.”

For more details on the Adopt a City program by NASA, MAGNET, the City of Cleveland, and Cuyahoga County, visit manufacturingsuccess.org/nasa.

For more than 30 years, MAGNET has offered a wide range of capabilities to manufacturers as part of the national and Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). These services, which include product and process development, workforce initiatives, and lean/operations consulting, help companies by improving revenue and job retention as well as driving manufacturing and economic development in Northeast Ohio.

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