ERIE — The Penn State Board of Trustees has approved the final plans for construction of the Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness at Penn State Behrend, advancing a project that will strengthen the Erie region’s metal-casting industry, expand workforce training, and provide access to specialized manufacturing equipment and expertise.

The 31,300-square-foot facility will be built in Knowledge Park. It will include advanced metal-casting labs, industry-facing manufacturing space, and areas designed for workforce training, applied research and industry collaboration.

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