Western Carolina University will receive a five-year grant of $642,960 to continue operation of the Center for Rapid Product Realization, which works to accelerate job creation and retention among existing businesses and emerging entrepreneurial enterprises in Western North Carolina. The funding has come from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

WCU’s Center for Rapid Product Realization collaborates with the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and its Small Business and Technology Development Center to help companies develop and market new products and inventions, and to help develop the regional workforce through industry-sponsored faculty/student projects.

Services include three-dimensional design and scanning, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping and mechanical and electrical testing at the Rapid Center; business assistance; and consulting and entrepreneurial mentoring.

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