New Kensington was once a global leader in manufacturing, where Alcoa began its world-spanning legacy of aluminum production. Like so many Rust Belt cities, the town fell on hard times as industry left in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
There have been efforts to change this narrative and to make sure that New Ken doesn’t miss the next wave of high-tech manufacturing. The city took a big step this week with the groundbreaking of the Digital Foundry, a collaboration between the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County and Penn State New Kensington.
“The addition of this new lab and innovation space is so much greater than an unveiling of a new building in town,” says Sherry McCleary, director of the Digital Foundry. “We’re hoping the Digital Foundry at New Kensington will serve as a model for economic rehabilitation for other Rust Belt towns like New Kensington that have…
