America Makes invests $14M in AM projects, training & standards in 2025
America Makes, Youngstown, Ohio, USA, has detailed its undertakings across 2025, including its nearly $14 million investment in key projects and advancing standards and qualifications.
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“We’ve inspired the next generation, expanded regional innovation, and scaled workforce pathways, all while enhancing our voice through new partnerships,” stated John Wilczynski, Executive Director. “Looking forward, there’s more to accomplish and endless opportunities.”
Media partners
America Makes reported that it has strengthened strategic communications and broadened its global reach through new partnerships, including Metal Powder Technology and PIM International.
These partnerships are intended to elevate awareness of America Makes’ initiatives, attract new members, and invite greater industry-wide collaboration and innovation. By amplifying its presence on the international stage, the institute aims to extend its influence and create opportunities for its members to gain recognition, share breakthroughs, and showcase their contributions to the future of Additive Manufacturing.
Increased member engagement
America Makes enhanced its member engagement through event strategies and workshops, intending to actively involve members in shaping real-world outcomes. This effort aimed to advance the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) priorities by reimagining key events to harness collective knowledge and input from the AM sector.
Events noted by the organisation included its Technical Review and Exchange (TRX) in spring and autumn and its August Members Meeting and Exchange (MMX), which saw over 750 participants. America Makes also noted having boosted its engagement with over 11,000 individuals participating in its Education and Workforce Development (EWD) activities.
Project calls
From March to August 2025, nearly $14 million was obligated to America Makes’ members and their project teams to drive the AM industry forward by addressing focus areas such as processability, non-destructive testing and sustainment.
These were funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD ManTech), and Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (AFRL (RX)).
Progress Report
On September 23, America Makes and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) released the 2025 Gaps Progress Report. This report was a result of a six-month effort to address gaps in the Standardization Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing, Version 3.0.
The report identified twenty-eight gaps in standards and conformity assessments, recommending changes and highlighting new areas for improvement. As a living document, it aims to enhance Additive Manufacturing standards and improve defence readiness, airworthiness, and supply chain resilience.
Additive in Steel
In May 2025, America Makes sponsored the Additive in Steel competition during the 2025 Forge Fair held in Cleveland, Ohio. This event saw college teams to design, engineer, and additively manufacture steel mission-ready multi-tools, enhancing DoD readiness and operator effectiveness.
Aligning with defence modernisation priorities, the competition focused on fast-tracking the adoption of Additive Manufacturing, reducing development timelines, and validating performance through on-stage testing. The result was a showcase of lightweighting, tool consolidation, and rapid iteration, with the winning tool documented on the Additive Manufacturing’s Cool Parts Show, presented by Additive Manufacturing media.
Youngstown Innovation Hub
On February 27, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the launch of the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense. The hub is supported by $26 million from Ohio’s Innovation Hubs Program intended to expand innovation-driven economic growth beyond Ohio’s largest metropolitan areas.
Modelled after the successful Innovation Districts in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus, the programme combines academic, industry, government, and nonprofit partners to spur high-tech development in regions such as Youngstown. With an additional $36 million in local, federal, and private investment, the hub is intended as a cornerstone of Ohio’s wider innovation strategy. It aims to bolster the region’s leadership in advanced and Additive Manufacturing, drive economic growth, and advance research, technology, and workforce development.
New Executive Committee, RMAG Leadership
This year, the America Makes also announced new leadership for both its Executive Committee and its Roadmap Advisor Group (RMAG).
The Executive Committee guides cross-sector experts in shaping strategy, policy, and advocacy efforts to advance the mission and bolster US manufacturing competitiveness. Rick Russell of The Barnes Global Advisors has been appointed chair of the Executive Committee, with Sandra DeVincent Wolf, PhD, of Carnegie Mellon University, serving as secretary.
The RMAG provides direction for the Institute’s AM technology roadmap, ensuring it reflects industry needs and emerging opportunities. Andrew Thompson, Northrop Grumman, is the new chairperson of RMAG.
Mobilising Hawaii’s dual-use advanced manufacturing & space industrial base
America Makes is actively advancing the DoD’s deterrence strategy in the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) by building allied industrial capacity and accelerating dual-use technologies in Hawaii.
Kimberly Gibson, America Makes Industrial Base Integration Director, visited Hawaii and Maui to collaborate with the Maui Economic Development Board on two projects: transforming Paia Sugar Mill into an advanced manufacturing village and establishing an Integrated Space Defense Accelerator & Manufacturing Center.
EWD expands AM training
America Makes launched AMTrain Phase 2, extending its reach across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) with role-specific AM training for fifteen critical job roles. This programme, featuring an enhanced user interface and integrations with DRIVE AM and Tooling U-SME, aimed to establish scalable Additive Manufacturing capabilities and strengthen workforce preparedness, directly supporting the DoD. Intending to expose Additive Manufacturing to one million Americans by 2027, the initiative aims to significantly impact DoD readiness and the national AM talent pipeline.
Additionally, the Institute introduced AMJobs.org, a free digital platform developed in collaboration with CAST, Inc., and funded by the Ohio Department of Development. This tool provides access to careers in Additive Manufacturing, supporting industry growth and fostering talent development. Through comprehensive EWD training programmes, AMJobs aims to help individuals explore careers, develop necessary skills, and achieve their educational and career goals.
