U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be directing $516,000 to Montana State University for the operation of the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program.
“This critical funding will help continue to boost and promote manufacturing in Big Sky Country,” Daines said. “I will continue working to prioritize programs that support made in Montana manufacturing and that create good paying jobs for our communities.”
Daines has been a strong supporter of MEP programs and Montana manufacturing, voting to secure funding for this public-private partnership.
The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center is a statewide manufacturing assistance center hosted at Montana State University. In 2019, the center helped sustain 349 high paying jobs and $54 Million in Montana sales.
The NIST program has awarded more than $36 million in annual funding to organizations across America as part of its efforts to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers. Over the past two decades the MEP program has worked with more than 86,000 manufacturers leading to $96.4 billion in sales, $15.7 billion in cost savings and has helped create nearly 800,000 jobs.
Statement of Support:
“With this grant MMEC will be able to continue to serve Montana’s manufacturers and value-added agriculture businesses in their efforts to grow, innovate and compete internationally.” – Paddy Fleming, Director, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
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