Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Objective

Enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance in United States manufacturing. Establish, maintain, and support Manufacturing Extension Centers and services, the functions of which are to improve the competitiveness of firms by accelerating the usage of appropriate manufacturing technology by smaller U.S. based manufacturing firms, and partner with the States in developing such technical assistance programs and services for their manufacturing base.

Who Can Apply

• Unrestricted by Entity Type
• U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states)
• Local
• State
• Territorial
• Nonprofit Organization
• Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government

For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. § 278k, eligible applicants shall be U.S.­-based nonprofit institutions or organizations or a consortium thereof; institutions of higher education; or a State, U.S. territory, local or tribal government. Applicants generally must contribute at least 50 percent of the proposed service's capital, annual operating and maintenance costs. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. § 278k-1, eligible applicants are existing MEP Centers. For extension service planning and pilot services agreements under 15 U.S.C. § 278l, eligible applicants shall be State governments or State- affiliated nonprofit organizations. For multi­state regional planning and pilot services agreements, eligible applicants shall be State and local governments, representing either themselves or a consortium of States, or appropriate private or public nonprofit organizations, operating on behalf of a consortium of States or as a representative of States.

Who Benefits

• Other

Beneficiary shall be U.S.-based manufacturing firms, especially smaller companies.

Assistance Types

• Cooperative Agreement

Program Contact

Robert.Ivester@nist.gov
301-975-5200