The National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST from the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity – NOFO for 14 Manufacturing Extension Partnership – MEP centers in order to help small and medium manufacturers implement advanced manufacturing technologies in order to boost U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. The money will fund MEP centers located across California, Georgia, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Puerto Rico, Utah, Montana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as Vermont.
It is worth noting that 98% of the U.S. manufacturing base consists of small and medium-sized manufacturers. NIST MEP supports collaboration between government agencies, private sector industry partners, academic institutions, economic development organizations, and various other manufacturing ecosystem stakeholders to demonstrate, implement, and embrace advanced manufacturing technologies.
Says Arvind Raman, undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology and NIST director, “This new funding opportunity and competition will help to strengthen manufacturing across the United States and expand the impact of the MEP program. With a renewed focus on advanced technology adoption and strong partnerships, MEP can help supercharge the American manufacturing ecosystem and improve America’s industrial competitiveness via our small and medium-sized manufacturers.”
The additional funding will establish MEP centers that will bolster manufacturing ecosystems by promoting the adoption or scaling of advanced technologies to enhance production capacity as well as capability, fostering integrated supply chains, and creating a robust manufacturing workforce.
Advanced manufacturing technologies are those that combine innovations like robotics, AI, automation, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, or biotechnology in a manufacturing environment to optimize production, enhance efficiency, or develop new, highly customized products.
Selected applicants will be required to obtain nonfederal matching funds of a minimum 50% and will enter into a cooperative contract with NIST for operation of the centers. The new centers will be part of the MEP National Network™, which is a nationwide network of MEP centers throughout the country comprising approximately 1,400 vetted manufacturing advisers and specialists at over 450 MEP service locations, with supervision offered by the MEP program at the federal level.
NIST looks forward to awarding up to the following amounts to centers across each location –
- Alabama: $2,191,702
- Alaska: $706,300
- Arkansas: $1,291,618
- California: $15,641,800
- Georgia: $3,227,001
- Louisiana: $1,537,719
- Massachusetts: $2,959,870
- Missouri: $2,656,601
- Montana: $839,900
- Ohio: $6,076,983
- Pennsylvania: $6,110,684
- Puerto Rico: $939,133
- Utah: $1,492,598
- Vermont: $812,300
Apparently, NIST MEP is going to host an informational webinar on July 28, 2026, at 1 p.m. EDT to give away general information pertaining to this opportunity as well as guidance in relation to preparing applications.