When: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, 10:30 a.m.

Where: University of Utah Industrial Combustion and Gasification Facility, 870 South 500 West, Salt Lake City, Utah. Parking is available on 500 West, east side of building. Tours of the research facility are available following the press conference.

What: Engineers from the University of Utah are launching a $1.6 million project to research cost-effective, carbon-friendly methods of turning coal-derived pitch into carbon-fiber composite material, as well as analyze its market potential and whether it can help revitalize coal communities threatened by a decline in production. This more carbon-safe process could produce composite materials for a slew of products including airplane and automobile parts and outdoor recreational equipment.

U.S. Economic Development Administration Assistant Secretary Jay Williams also will be present to announce a new slate of POWER grants that will finance projects to help struggling coal communities around the country.

Who: Those also scheduled to attend include Rep. Brad King, D-Price; members of the Carbon County Commission; Ben Hart, Managing Director of Urban and Rural Business Services, The Governor’s Office of Economic Development; Eric Eddings, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Research Project Leader, University of Utah College of Engineering; Cynthia Furse, University of Utah Associate Vice President for Research.