Lest many forget that Rhode Island was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, state representatives are declaring their support for a plan aiming to give manufacturing in the state a rebirth designed for the 21st century.

The House of Representatives this week passed a resolution sponsored by Rep. Kenneth A. Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) and co-sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) that supports an application by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to the federal Economic Development Administration to create a “manufacturing design hub” in the Ocean State.

The application is for a grant from an initiative announced by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address this year to bring together innovative manufacturers, entrepreneurs, institutions of higher education, state agencies, and federal research and development centers in the region to re-establish a successful, modern manufacturing industry.

“Winning this grant could drastically change our economic landscape for the better,” Serpa said. “It would allow us to think bigger when pursuing economic development and job training. We would be able to put Rhode Island’s best innovators on the map. We already have the history; now we’re looking to the future. We harbor so many people who are on the brink of entrepreneurship, but we don’t have the tools or support to help all of those dreams make the journey to actual products. My main concern in Rhode Island is business and how we are going to shake off the misery of the recession. This, undoubtedly, would be a perfect opportunity to show the world what we can do.”

The resolution (2014-H 7785), which the House passed March 4, supports the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s Phase II grant proposal to the United States Economic Development Administration under a program that would designate Rhode Island as a “manufacturing community,” thereby providing for priority funding from more than 13 federal agencies with the combined financial resources of more than $1.3 billion. It also urges the state’s congressional delegation to advocate on the application’s behalf.

Besides helping revive a segment that was once a major force of Rhode Island’s economy, the center could potentially pave the way for Rhode Island to take advantage of other opportunities for federal economic development funding.

“I see good things down the road for us, but we need a starting point,” Serpa said. “In the meantime, we’re going to do our best to make it easier to do business in Rhode Island, and we’re going to continue to look for creative alternatives to instigate growth.”