MEP is a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. Last year, MEP Centers interacted with 25,445 manufacturers, leading to $9.3 billion in sales, $1.4 billion in cost savings, $3.5 billion in new client investments, and helped create and retain more than 86,602 jobs.
The above is a description of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and it is facing the possibility of disappearing. Founded in 1988, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has sought to enhance the productivity and technological performance of manufacturing in the United States. The partnership is the nation’s only network of public-private partnerships in every state dedicated to helping small to mid-seized manufacturers. MEP supports greater supply chain integration, and provides access to information, training, and technologies that improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The national MEP Centers work directly with manufacturers and contribute to the growth of well-paying jobs, dynamic manufacturing communities, and American innovation and global competitiveness.
For every dollar invested from the federal government in 2016, MEP clients reported that the service helped them generate over $9 billion in new and retained sales, $2.3 billion in new sales alone! For every $1,501 invested, MEP creates or retains one manufacturing job. Since 1988, MEP has has helped with $96.4 billion in sales and $15.7 billion in savings. Additionally, more than 797, 994 jobs have been retained overall.
The MEP has been a big help in preserving manufacturing in our nation and now it’s in big trouble. President Trump’s budget currently being debated by Congress eliminates the MEP. Eliminating the MEP will have a huge impact on our industry, especially the smaller manufacturers. Manufacturing drives our economy. Over 18.5 million jobs are supported by manufacturing and for every dollar invested in manufacturing, $1.40 is put back into our economy. United States manufacturing currently stands as the ninth largest economy in the world, comprising nearly 12% of our GDP.
Dissolving the funding for the MEP will be not only a huge loss to manufacturing, but also a big loss for the nation’s economy. We urge you to write your Congressional Representatives and ask them to save the MEP!
Click HERE to see who your representatives are.
Follow on Twitter: @NIST_MEP
Related Links
- Eight New Members Added to the MEP Advisory Board
- New Report Released on the National-Level Economic Impact of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
- NIST Awards $12 Million to MEP Centers in 11 States. An additional $5 million will support MEP representatives in four Manufacturing USA institutes.
- This program has been saving working-class jobs for 30 years. Now it’s in big trouble
