Exports, Competitiveness, and Synergy in Appalachian Industry Clusters

This report analyzes 7 industry sectors pre-selected by the Appalachian Regional Comm. on the basis of their importance to the region's economy and export potential. The 7 clusters include: miscellaneous plastics parts in Northwest PA and OH, electronic components in NY, household furniture in Al and MS, knitting mills in NC and VA, medical devices in Southwest PA, industrial machinery in NC and SC, and environmental technologies in Eastern TN. The targets of the analysis are small and mid-sized manufacturing enterprises which have been slow to modernize and hesitant to export, and which comprise a potential source of growth. Tables and figures.