(Morrisville, N.C.) The NC Product Design and Prototyping Co-Op, a project of the RTP Product Development Guild, has released its 2009 Membership Directory to connect manufacturing-oriented companies to vendors servicing North Carolina’s manufacturing technology infrastructure. Containing service descriptions and contact information on local companies across the product design spectrum, the Directory is one of the ways the Co-Op provides an opportunity for businesses, organizations, elected officials, and the general public to learn more about North Carolina’s impressive pool of quality manufacturing talent.

“We continue to be one of the leading manufacturing states in the nation, and efforts by the Co-Op and other regional economic development groups make it even more enticing for companies to relocate here to the Triangle,” said Nelson Dollar, North Carolina State Representative.

Dollar, who has been working to bolster North Carolina’s competitive edge in the global economy, is one of several civic leaders who have helped to support the Co-Op through event participation and by providing critical feedback and guidance to the organization since its inception in 2008.

According to Montie Roland, advisor to the Co-Op and president of the RTP Guild, interest from state government, the business sector, and regional media in Co-Op activities is strong, with increasing attendance in networking and educational events as well as a growing number of phone and email queries about the organization. Roland said Co-Op members have been quick to turn that interest into opportunities to promote the state as a manufacturing leader and make it more attractive to out-of-state companies.

“The Directory is a key resource making it easy for manufacturers looking to relocate here to literally step off the plane at RDU and find everything they need to support their product design and development efforts,”he said.

The Co-Op directory is available free-of-charge and can be downloaded as a .pdf at www.rtpproductguild.com/pdfs/directory.pdf. For more information email info@rtpproductguild.com.

The NC Design & Prototyping Co-Op is a professional network of service providers driving economic growth in North Carolina’s technology and manufacturing communities. The Co-Op membership reflects a wide spectrum of expert practitioners involved in the conceptualization, design, development, production and marketing of innovative products and technologies for multiple industries in the U.S. and overseas.