Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Join the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for Manufacturing Community Day!

NIST recently issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing a competitive pilot program through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). The initiative will significantly boost productivity, strengthening America's global economic competitiveness and national security.

This pilot program focuses on developing shared technology frameworks across two vital national priority sectors:

1. Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace Components: Accelerating adoption, validating methods, and reducing barriers to entry for component manufacturers.

2. Domestic Critical Minerals Supply Chain: Transforming fragmented supply chains into robust, resilient domestic ecosystems.

Submissions are limited to current MEP Centers or a consortium of Centers, but success requires collaboration across the entire manufacturing lifecycle, including among industry, academia, NIST, other federal laboratories, and state and local government partners.

To foster these collaborations, Manufacturing Community Day will feature NIST leadership sharing pilot program goals, timelines, and expectations for teaming, along with dedicated sessions to gather industry feedback.

Event Details:

✳️ What: Manufacturing Community Day
✳️ When: June 24, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET
✳️ Where: Virtual
✳️ Who should attend: Industry leaders, original equipment manufacturers, small and medium-sized manufacturers, academic researchers, federal agencies, NIST and other federal laboratories, MEP Centers, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and the MEP Advisory Board

Seats are limited, so secure your spot today to learn how your organization can partner with an MEP Center to shape the future of U.S. manufacturing.

https://events.zoomgov.com/ev/AlZ7GRKrS2SLLSLDyEtGnGP7ijFq87H6uVwyo650Zb2FTnJaAscI~Ave0NsxUIQt5tAWdxAYik0PWGoI6ylz_1qfjEebL_qnUsG9jh5ycLHEBFA

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for an upcoming Technology Accelerator Pilot Program.

This competitive pilot program will support existing MEP Centers in accelerating the adoption and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies that enhance the competitiveness of the domestic industrial base for additive manufacturing of aerospace components and the domestic critical minerals supply chain.

It aims to revolutionize U.S. industrial supply chains by leveraging the MEP National Network™, NIST’s measurement science programs, the NIST-coordinated Manufacturing USA network, and partnerships with other federal agencies to identify pathways for technology demonstration and market transition.

Read the NOI at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/20/2026-10105/mep-pilot-program

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in U.S. Manufacturing infographic is now available!

From predictive maintenance to generative design, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how manufacturers improve efficiency, enhance quality, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. While some manufacturers are already using AI in their operations, others face barriers to adoption.

This infographic explores AI's impact on manufacturing today and in the future and explains how the MEP National Network connects manufacturers with expert guidance, hands-on support, and access to cutting-edge AI solutions tailored to their needs.

Download the infographic:
https://www.nist.gov/mep/manufacturing-infographics/rise-artificial-intelligence-us-manufacturing

If you’re a U.S. manufacturer seeking federal assistance, you need to check out manufacturing.gov!

Manufacturing.gov is the primary hub for information on federal manufacturing programs, funding opportunities, and other valuable resources that help U.S. manufacturers increase productivity, improve supply chains, and find and retain a strong workforce.

The website includes descriptions and contact information for federal programs, open funding opportunities, topic-focused pages, and announcements from the White House and federal agencies on U.S. manufacturing.

https://www.manufacturing.gov/

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a cooperative agreement to Impact Washington to establish a Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center in Washington state.

Impact Washington supports manufacturers in competing globally through expert consulting, training programs, educational and industry events, and resources that drive profits, workforce development, and business growth. They offer cost-effective assistance to enhance a company’s productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness by applying technology, techniques, and best practices.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) scientists have developed a new packaging process for photonic integrated circuits so they can survive and operate in some of the most extreme environments imaginable.

The advance could enable these technologies to operate on deep-space probes, inside nuclear reactors, in ultrahigh-vacuum systems, and at temperatures ranging from near absolute zero to scorchingly hot industrial settings.

Although the new process now takes several days to complete, engineers could dramatically shorten the time, making the technique suitable for large-scale manufacturing.

https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2026/03/nist-researchers-develop-photonic-chip-packaging-can-withstand-extreme

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a cooperative agreement to the West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WVMEP) to establish an MEP Center in West Virginia.

WVMEP's mission is to strengthen, empower, and expand West Virginia manufacturing to enhance its competitiveness both locally and globally, while also functioning as the outreach arm of West Virginia University's Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, connecting WVU’s resources to West Virginia manufacturers.

WVU Industrial Extension

Domestic manufacturing plays a vital role in keeping our nation’s supply chains running smoothly. The MEP National Network’s Supplier Scouting service connects U.S. manufacturers, making it easier to produce these essential items right here at home.

The MEP National Network searches for hundreds of items across various industries, offering opportunities for small and medium-sized manufacturers to grow and expand. Currently, there are 30 open supplier scouting opportunities for U.S. manufacturers seeking domestic suppliers for items like:

✅ Lighting switch covers
✅ Horizontal vinyl blinds
✅ Stainless steel tubing

View current open opportunities:
https://www.nist.gov/mep/mep-national-network-open-supplier-scouting-opportunities

Wishing Brenda Martin a happy retirement!

Brenda has been a dedicated advocate for Iowa manufacturers for over 20 years at the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), part of the Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center, and has more than 40 years of overall experience in manufacturing.

From her early work in food manufacturing at Carnation (later Nestlé) to leadership roles in operations and corporate auditing, she built a legacy grounded in expertise, hard work, and results.

Since joining CIRAS in 2003, Brenda has used her extensive industry knowledge and statewide connections to assist businesses in strengthening their workforce, thinking strategically, and accessing the right resources at the right time.

Thank you, Brenda, for your dedication to Iowa manufacturing and the lasting impact you’ve made. We wish you all the best in your next chapter!

New Grant Opportunity!

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative promotes workforce readiness skills and helps ex-offenders find jobs across three groups: youth (ages 15-17), young adults (ages 18-24), and adults (age 25 and older).

Funds will be awarded to eligible entities to develop programs that train ex-offenders for high-demand American jobs and help them become productive contributors to the U.S. economy.

Applications must be submitted electronically no later than April 15, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern.

Apply at: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361368