AFS has significant roles in two major manufacturing initiatives announced in February 2014 by President Obama as part of his National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. The new programs are backed by more than $300 million of public and private funds and aim to propel American manufacturing forward by bringing together product developers, researchers, manufacturers, universities and training institutions into regional hubs. The hubs will connect private businesses with research institutions to advance high tech manufacturing. For more information: http://www.afsinc.org/news/news.cfm?ItemNumber=16038