The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the U.S. Department of Commerce, has recently granted approximately $400,000 to each of its MEP National Network™ Centers across the United States and Puerto Rico.

This substantial funding, totaling over $20 million, has been allocated to develop programs in each state to enhance the resilience and efficiency of domestic supply chains.

Authorized through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this pilot program empowers MEP centers like Impact Washington to provide specialized services focused on supply chain resiliency, workforce development, and adopting advanced technologies specifically for small and medium-sized manufacturers. The newly acquired funds will play a vital role in several key areas, including supplier scouting, strengthening existing supply chain networks, facilitating connections among manufacturers, and establishing a comprehensive mapping of U.S. supplier capability and capacity.

This ambitious initiative is expected to significantly and positively impact the growth and resilience of the domestic manufacturing industry as it works towards securing and enhancing the nation's supply chains.

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Biden-Harris Administration Awards $20 Million to Make Domestic Supply Chains More Resilient

News release issued initially published on June 9, 2023, on the NIST website

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has awarded roughly $400,000 to each of its MEP National Network™ Centers in every state and Puerto Rico. The more than $20 million of total funding will be used to develop programs to make domestic supply chains more resilient and efficient. 

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 authorized a pilot program of awards that would allow MEP centers to provide services focused on resiliency of domestic supply chains, workforce development and adoption of advanced technology upgrades at small and medium-sized manufacturers. 

The new awards will support the creation of a database called the national Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network (SCOIN). It will focus on providing supplier scouting services, establishing new service offerings to improve existing supply chain networks, filling gaps in the supply chain by connecting original equipment manufacturers with small and medium-sized manufacturers, and creating a complete map of U.S. supplier capability and capacity.

“For the first time, the U.S. government is creating a comprehensive end-to-end mapping of the supply chain, which is crucial for the domestic manufacturing industry and resiliency,” said Pravina Raghavan, NIST MEP director. “Supply chain shortages are due to a lack of supply chain capacity. To address this issue, we’re creating an information system that lays out all the suppliers across various industries. This way, we can connect small suppliers to more opportunities in the supply chain.” 

This funding opportunity requires each center to dedicate at least one staff member or contractor per year to support these efforts and report on the results to small and medium-sized manufacturers and the MEP National Network. The projects will run for an initial two years and, if successful, may be extended.