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network offering speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. With manufacturing technology increasingly <br />dependent on computerized design and remote processes, San Leandro is poised to become a hub for <br />advanced manufacturing by capitalizing on state-of-the-art data connectivity and a traditional backbone of <br />industrial properties. <br /> <br />Ongoing Efforts <br />The City of San Leandro and Lit San Leandro are jointly members <br />of US Ignite, a partnership launched by the White House Office <br />of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science <br />Foundation. Through US Ignite, San Leandro is helping to foster <br />the creation of next-generation Internet applications, with a particular emphasis on advanced <br />manufacturing. In short, the goal of this program is to harness the creativity of the country’s top <br />innovators to develop new uses for high-speed networks like Lit San Leandro. <br /> <br />The City and Lit San Leandro are also part of a team participating in the Mozilla Ignite Challenge, a <br />competition to develop applications that leverage the power of ultra-fast networks. The team’s submission <br />involves the development of a tool to observe and control industrial processes <br />remotely and in real time, with secure, proprietary process control. This <br />concept was selected as a finalist, and is now in the design phase, with a <br />local San Leandro company slated to serve as the test site. <br /> <br />Why the Bay Area <br />A successful Advanced Manufacturing Center will leverage local expertise to generate innovations that can <br />benefit manufacturing activity nationwide. In addition to San Leandro’s existing base of industrial activity <br />and cutting edge fiber optic network, the Bay Area offers a unique blend of critical resources. Successful <br />innovation in advanced manufacturing is certain to be closely linked to software development. As a leading <br />international hub for the software industry, the San Francisco Bay Area is extremely well positioned to lead <br />in this regard. Further, the Bay Area is home to industry leaders in digital security, machine-to-machine <br />(M2M) communications, and DNA-based manufacturing which lies at the intersection of advanced <br />manufacturing and biotechnology. <br /> <br />Funding Request <br />Funding for an Advanced Manufacturing Center will require a complex, multi-agency arrangement, <br />combining public funds, contributions from academic institutions and private funding from local business <br />interests. To date, the Obama Administration has made advanced manufacturing a strong priority, through <br />projects such as the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge and the Trade <br />Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Program, among others. <br /> <br />The San Leandro Advanced Manufacturing initiative fits particularly well with the National Network for <br />Manufacturing Innovation Meeting, a Federal program to develop 15 Centers for Advanced Manufacturing <br />across the United States. Funds will be needed for operations, the purchase of equipment and a facility of <br />approximately 10-15,000 square feet. <br /> <br />In 2012, San Leandro was awarded a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Admini- <br />stration to support the expansion of the Lit San Leandro fiber network. The expansion project will <br />bring the fiber system to a total of 18 miles within the City’s commercial and industrial areas.