UPDATED: Mahoning Valley receives $30 million manufacturing gra - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - An economic initiative has been awarded $30 million as a federal investment after approval from a regional partnership.

The investment is part of the TechBelt Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, an approved proposal that "will focus on additive manufacturing and aims to demonstrate the value of collaborative problem-solving and asset-building that could occur on a broader scale if the Network were to be established," according to a release.

The TechBelt initiative, created in 2008, was formed by a group of members seeking to spur economic growth in the region. Their proposal, spearheaded by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing, was approved by The Department of Defense and The Department of Commerce. Universities in the region including Youngstown State University and Case Western Reserve University also contributed to development of the proposal.

In a news conference that featured White House National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank, and Under Secretary of Defense Frank Kendall, Ohio politicians applauded efforts made by parties in being selected.

"There's no question that this group of people here today earned this," said Senator Sherrod Brown, adding that the competition for the investment was tough.

Brown said that the President has called on Congress to add more collaboration like The TechBelt initiative around the nation.

"We're seeing, for the first time in my lifetime, a real manufacturing strategy coming out of the federal government," Brown said.

Congressman Tim Ryan asked for more involvement to help spur economic growth from both the state and community.

"We shape the future," Ryan said.