Innovate Washington, an affiliate of Spokane-based Ignite Northwest, is overseeing $2.4 million in federal grant money being used primarily to pay for advanced training for rural employees in manufacturing-related fields statewide.

The U.S. Department of Labor contributed $1.3 million to the grant. The U.S. Economic Development Administration contributed $750,000, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology—which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce—added $375,000.

Employees working in manufacturing fields can earn certificates for project management, Six Sigma quality management, manufacturing leadership, constraints management, and logistics and supply chain management. 

Read the full story at spokanejournal.com.