Miami University’s $31 million Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub (AM Hub) was unveiled as part of Miami’s strategic plan, MiamiTHRIVE, which began in the fall 2023.
The 375,000-square-foot facility had its grand opening on Monday, Feb 2, with hundreds of visitors celebrating the collaboration between Miami Butler Tech School, OhioMeansJobs Butler County, the City of Hamilton and Butler County. As the only of its kind in Ohio, the hub serves as a home for manufacturing education and industry partnership where students hone necessary job skills.
Among the 14 speakers were several state and federal lawmakers, including United States Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH), as well as Ohio House Representatives Thomas Hall (R-46) and Diane Mullins (R-47).
“This hub is a powerful example of what happens when education, industry and local government align around the shared workforce division,” Hall said.
According to the 2025 Manufacturing Day governor’s resolution, Ohio ranks third in the nation for the number of manufacturing jobs, with more than 688,000 positions in the sector. MiamiTHRIVE centers on an employer-driven approach, providing in-house opportunities for partnerships with more than 31 industry partners. According to George Lang, between 300-500 organizations and agencies are expected to work with MiamiTHRIVE in the next year.
“Miami and Butler Tech are working together to build a talent pipeline that's aligned with what employers actually need,” J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, said. This is hands-on, real-world learning, using tools and technologies that companies need and rely on to be competitive in a fiercely global competition.”
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Damon Knoche, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Westchester/Liberty, which partnered with Miami and the Work+ program to provide opportunities for students from second through 12th grade, said he’s eager to help foster positions for members of their organization.
“We’re excited about the new opportunity and know that our continued relationship with MU and Butler Tech will create thousands of opportunities for our club kids in the future,” Knoche said. “I think that spirit of collaboration that many folks talked about today — it's the lifeblood of what we do at the club and connecting with our community to provide mentors and opportunities for our club kids to see their greatest future ahead.”
Frank Tonner, retired engineering technology employee at Miami and event attendee, said he also has high hopes for the initiative and its implications for the university and community at large.
“Working with University Park business partners has opened up a lot of possibilities for grants, and a lot of our new professors are really fantastic,” Tonner said. “We had some really good skills before, but this is going to take us to the next level.”
The institute has expanded from the two associate degrees offered in the 1990s to now offering 10 degrees between Miami and Butler Tech.
The expansion also provides access for almost double the number of students as in previous years, allowing for 3,000 applicants to receive training in the field of their choice.
Garrett Engle, a junior studying mechanical engineering technology, works as a lab assistant student ambassador and agreed that the polytechnic education will be a positive change for students seeking future employment.
“We're partners with so many other companies ... They tell us, ‘Hey, we want these skills in our new incoming hire … and we can work that into our curriculum,” Engle said. “Theoretically, anyone can learn how to do math, but here is where you actually know how to apply it.”
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