PRESS RELEASE
DMSCA Supplier Development Foundation Launches Project ALIGN to Support Communities Affected by Significant Disasters
First Initiative Will Support the Rebuilding of Knockalva Polytechnic College in Jamaica
ROCKVILLE, Maryland, December 1, 2025 - The Domestic Manufacturers Supply Chain Alliance’s Supplier Development Foundation (DMSCA Foundation) announces Project ALIGN, a supply chain relief and workforce recovery program. ALIGN stands for Advancing Learning, Industry, and Growth Networks. The program supports communities affected by significant disasters by restoring technical education, supporting students, and protecting continuity of supply for industries that rely on skilled labor.
The devastation in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa showed the need for a focused disaster relief initiative that protects education, training, and the people who anchor supply chains. This need shaped the launch of Project ALIGN and its purpose.
The first initiative under Project ALIGN will support the rebuilding of Knockalva Polytechnic College in Hanover, Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa caused serious damage to classrooms, labs, and training facilities. Restoring these spaces is important for students, educators, and the regional workforce. The program also supports students with temporary shelter, basic resources, and recovery assistance so they can return to class quickly.
Erica Simmons, a technologist and program strategist with roots in Mandeville, Jamaica, will lead the initiative in partnership with the DMSCA Foundation. She brings experience in digital transformation, manufacturing systems, and workforce development across the Caribbean and the United States.
“When we saw the devastation in Jamaica, it became clear that Hurricane Melissa was a signal to expand our mission,” said David Burton, Chair of the DMSCA Foundation. “The DMSCA Foundation needed to focus on supplier capability and also on protecting continuity of supply at its source, the people, when natural disasters strike. Project ALIGN is an important new program for the Foundation. It supports recovery for students and communities and strengthens the workforce that keeps supply chains working over the long term.”
Project ALIGN invites DMSCA member companies, partners, and the public to support the recovery through cash and in-kind donations.
Cash donations support:
• Facility repairs and reconstruction
• Upgrades to electrical and digital systems
• New computers and engineering equipment
• Faculty and student training programs
• Temporary shelter and support for students to help them return to class fast
In kind donations include:
• Computers, laptops, displays, and accessories
• Networking and connectivity equipment
• Engineering tools, lab benches, and safety items
• Building materials such as wiring, fixtures, and protective gear
• Industrial training software
• Freight, storage, and logistics services
• Professional services such as engineering or training
All contributions are tax deductible through the DMSCA Foundation.
“Knockalva helped shape Jamaica’s technical talent for decades,” said Erica Simmons. “This recovery effort supports students, families, and the wider supply chain. Working with the DMSCA Foundation, Project ALIGN provides a path to rebuild damaged facilities, reduce supply interruptions, and strengthen the region’s future.”
To support Project ALIGN or learn more, visit:
About DMSCA Foundation:
The mission of the DMSCA Supplier Development Foundation is to close the supply chain disparity gap by supporting DMSCA small to midsize manufacturer (SMM) members' need to execute strategies for Industry 4.0 and ESG-linked workforce training, credentialing, and sustainability that support community economic development.
Media Contact:
Erica Simmons
erica.simmons@ieee.org