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President Obama Visits TechShop During Latest Visit To Pittsburgh

June 17, 2014 / 9:23 AM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- President Obama was in Pittsburgh again today for his third visit to the area just this year.

During a visit to TechShop at Bakery Square in East Liberty, the President said American manufacturing is a good bet in a global economy and he's going to make promotion of U.S. products a priority during the rest of his time in office.

He toured the facility, offered some remarks and took questions from those in attendance.

KDKA's Jon Delano Reports:

While speaking at the facility, President Obama that technological advances at home are putting production tools in the hands of everybody who has a good idea. He says he wants to have policies to encourage more entrepreneurship to lift up the U.S. economy.

As an example, he showed off the special case he uses to protect his iPad.

TechShop is a workshop designed to give entrepreneurs, inventors and creators the space and the tools to design and build their prototypes.

Air Force One arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport around 12:15 p.m. Sen. Bob Casey traveled with the President.

The White House says this visit is focused on "making things in America" again.

It is part of President Obama's renewed emphasis on how to create jobs and improve wages. During the next several weeks, the President is looking to cut through the current foreign policy flare-ups with an emphasis on working families, manufacturing, wages and the need for greater spending on infrastructure projects.

"A lot of my agenda for economic development in the next couple of years revolves around how do we spur more manufacturing, more homegrown ideas, more research and development," he said. "Already we've been able to get 80 cities to commit to working in a public-private partnership to generate more manufacturing efforts."

The focal point was TechShop at Bakery Square where, for the price of a gym membership, anyone can make things on all kinds of sophisticated equipment.

Obama says the goal is to have more entrepreneurs.

This visit to Pittsburgh is prelude to the first White House Makers Faire in Washington DC on Wednesday. The idea is to encourage the invention of more American-made products, starting at places like TechShop.

President Obama Arrives At Pittsburgh International Airport:

Following his visit here, the President will head to New York City for a gala lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee.

The fundraiser comes a day after the White House announced plans for Obama to sign an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In April, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden visited CCAC's West Hills campus in North Fayette.

During his first visit this year, President Obama was at the U.S. Steel plant in West Mifflin in January.

Pittsburgh leaders say President Obama's visit to Pittsburgh is significant.

"He told me when he got off the plane, he says he loves Pittsburgh and he promotes it to the other cities across the country," said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

Stay with KDKA for the full details on President Obama's visit to Pittsburgh.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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