ARMTech
The Armstrong County Industrial Development Council (ACIDC), the Armstrong County Board of Commissioners, and the Pittsburgh Technology Council announced in February 2011 a shift in management of the annual ARMTech Showcase of Industry & Technology. The planning committee, with representatives from the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the ACIDC, Catalyst Connection, and the Electro-Optics Center chose to rename the exhibition "Made In PA Expo". The Pittsburgh Technology Council will assume management of the industrial exhibition. The regional tradeshow will shift its focus from one previously heavy in electro-optics and defense-related exhibitors to encompass a broader range of manufacturers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. By moving ARMTech from a purely Armstrong County focus to a regional focus, the Made In PA Expo will allow for even higher visibility and more business opportunities for Armstrong County firms and manufacturers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.
ARMTech Showcase of Industry & Technology
A key component in building local supplier relationships was the ARMTech Showcase of Industry & Technology. The ARMTech Showcase provided local companies and business leaders with the opportunity to network and establish working relationships with companies and organizations from within the region and across the United States. The Showcase also promoted the economic welfare of the area by creating an awareness of investment opportunities and reinforcing the region’s reputation for workforce excellence.
By moving ARMTech from a purely Armstrong County focus to a regional focus, the Made In PA Expo will allow for even greater visibility and more business opportunities for Armstrong County firms and manufacturers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The transition and refocus to the Made In PA Expo will allow the exhibition to grow in future years, enabling it to be held at different locations throughout the region. Furthermore, it isbelieved that the broadening of scope from the ARMTech Showcase to the Made In PA Expo will reap dividends for the entire southwestern Pennsylvania region, which ultimately also benefits Armstrong County.
ARMTech was first established in 1999 as an initiative of the late Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12th), when he created the U.S. Navy Center of Excellence in Electro-Optics Manufacturing and the Electro-Optics Center. Building on the unique opportunity the Electro-Optics Center presented, the Armstrong County Board of Commissioners established the Armstrong County Regional Manufacturing Initiative (ARMTech) and charged the ACIDC to manage the event. ARMTech was designed with goals of promoting industry recruitment, developing a qualified workforce and establishing supplier relationships within Armstrong County, within the surrounding region and across the United States.
