Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

For Alyssa Shanks Rodrigues, PhD, director of the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), helping women achieve success in manufacturing is more than a job, it’s a calling. Alyssa says diversity is important to the future of manufacturing, especially when it comes to including women at the leadership level.    Alyssa’s efforts go beyond empowering women. The Alaska MEP is helping smaller manufacturers and startups make connections in the state to become part of a larger, wealth-building community. “Manufacturing is one of those industries where you can start out making a living wage,” she says. “Those living wage jobs can build generational wealth and change long-term family outcomes.”   Read Alyssa’s story: https://lnkd.in/eU5yHdr4   #MEPNationalNetwork

The MEP National Network’s (MEPNN) supplier scouting service can be applied on a national, regional, or local scale. By leveraging our extensive relationships and knowledge of U.S. manufacturing capabilities, we identify U.S. manufacturers with specific production and technical capabilities and connect them to new customers in the supply chains of larger companies and government agencies. There are currently 36 open supplier scouting opportunities for U.S. manufacturers seeking domestic suppliers for various items. View current open opportunities: https://lnkd.in/emi9NRi6 #supplier #MEPNationalNetwork #SupplyChain

The Healey-Driscoll administration, of Massachusetts, has awarded $10,280,407 in grants to 13 companies to support sustainable alternatives to traditional manufacturing through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), a program through MassTech Collaborative’s (MassTech) Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) that bridges the gap between innovation and commercialization by providing capital grants and supporting pioneering projects in emerging industries. Grant recipients include Biometry which will use $626,000 to build a manufacturing line for the production of its single-use, disposable gas sensor that measures airway inflammation in asthma patients to detect asthma attacks days in advance. Biometry will collaborate with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) to identify workforce needs and develop training programs. With this grant, Biometry plans to add four jobs this year and up to 50 new manufacturing jobs in the future. This project is aligned with the Manufacturing USA Institute Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII). https://lnkd.in/ehhTCeve

With the Pathway Home grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Polaris MEP and its partners will expand the manufacturing pipeline in the state by empowering and equipping formerly incarcerated individuals with skills and support services. Outcomes of this effort include reduced recidivism, successful careers and stronger communities.

In June, practitioners from across the MEP National Network who focus on advanced manufacturing technologies associated with Industry/Manufacturing 4.0 convened in Greenville, South Carolina.   Highlights included technology demonstrations, courses on Automation 101 and Digital Transformation as well as cybersecurity training provided by former NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) staff member Pat Toth.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the release of the Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) solicitation for fiscal year (FY) 2024. RICs act as networking and resource hubs for small businesses and assist in matching cutting-edge technology to industry needs and increase the number of innovative small businesses and entrepreneurs in the nation’s supply chain.   This opportunity is open to all nonprofit and for-profit firms with an active SAM.gov registration eligible for federal contracts at time of offer. The deadline is July 26.   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gGqhkUGU

The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (NATO DIANA) works to accelerate the development of emerging and disruptive technologies across the NATO Alliance.    DIANA is looking for companies working in 5 Challenge Areas:   ❇️ Energy & Power ❇️ Data & Information Security ❇️ Sensing & Surveillance ❇️ Human Health & Performance ❇️ Critical Infrastructure & logistics   They are also asking innovators to consider three cross-cutting themes: space, resilience and sustainability across the five challenge topics.   DIANA leverages its accelerator programme and test centre network to bring start-ups together with operational end users, scientists, and systems integrators to advance compelling deep tech dual-use solutions for the Alliance.   Applications are due August 9.   https://lnkd.in/eSZtfVm3

The Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce (MBDA) invites nominations for the 41st Annual National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards. These awards honor the exceptional achievements of entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations dedicated to advancing business enterprises within underrepresented communities. For more than fifty years, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency has played a pivotal role in nurturing the expansion and global competitiveness of the nation's minority business enterprises. MBDA has been a trailblazer in honoring the achievements and economic contributions made by these businesses, which now number more than 10 million. Nominations are due August 15.   https://lnkd.in/eTZMMeAR

Matthew Fieldman, Executive Director of America Works, based at MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (part of Ohio MEP) explains inclusive excellence is the pursuit of a high-functioning organization where everyone understands their unique role, their expertise in how they contribute to the success of the business, and what their future in the company looks like. When organizations are inclusive, they have greater productivity, retention, and profits. To better recruit and retain workers, it’s time for American manufacturers to move beyond simple operational excellence—making processes as efficient and cost-effective as possible—and start thinking about inclusive excellence, which prioritizes people above products and profits. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ec3jdrdA

This year’s Baldrige 35th Quest for Excellence Conference featured many presentations on ways to help your organization become more resilient, sustainable, and meaningful for your workforce, with lessons shared on leadership, social responsibility, customer focus, strategy, measurement, and much more. “Leading with Emotional Intelligence” presented by Dr. Latitia McCane of the Apprentice School in Newport News, VA, guided audience members’ reflections on the differences between emotional intelligence (i.e., emotional quotient, or EQ for short) and intelligence quotient (IQ). "Ninety percent of the success of outstanding leaders is attributable to EQ, which is twice as important as IQ,” said McCane, adding that people with high EQ tend to have better general health, quality of life, relationship quality, and personal effectiveness. https://lnkd.in/ePvvBMWb