North Carolina Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (NC DMCSP)

On August 13, 2021, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), following a competitive selection process, announced that the state of North Carolina was selected to receive the designation as one of five “Defense Manufacturing Communities” in the nation during FY2020.

On September 22, 2021, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation awarded North Carolina State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) one of the five grants under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP). The purpose of the DMCSP is to make long-term investments in critical skills, facilities, workforce development, research and development, and small business support to strengthen the national security innovation base. The grant application process was based upon the competitive ranking of proposals by a Defense Manufacturing Community Review Panel.

The DMCSP grant is being used to undertake a $7,466,588 project to strengthen defense advanced textiles manufacturing capabilities through an industrial production ecosystem that melds cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, biotechnology, and additive manufacturing. The North Carolina DMCSP Consortium involves over 20 entities across the state to build on existing textile manufacturing collaborations in order to establish a best-in-class innovation ecosystem for the research, development and production of smart textiles and wearable devices in support of warfighter health and performance.

North Carolina Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program Partners:

Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)
Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM)
Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST)
Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC)
East Carolina University
Emerging Technology Institute (ETI)
First Flight Venture Center (FFVC) and Hangar6
Manufacturing & Textile Innovation Network (MTIN)
Manufacturing x Digital (MxD)
Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC)
North Carolina A&T University
North Center for Organizing Military Performance (NC-COMP)
North Carolina Department of Commerce
North Carolina Defense TechnologyTransition Office (DEFTECH)
North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP)
North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC)
NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) Defense Industry Initiatives
NC State University Wilson College of Textiles
Polymers Center
RTI International
Southern Textiles Association (STA)
Textile Technology Center at Gaston College
The Geneva Foundation

Read the Official U.S. Department of Defense Statement.