Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance in United States manufacturing. Establish, maintain, and support Manufacturing Extension Centers and services, the functions of which are to improve the competitiveness of firms by accelerating the usage of appropriate manufacturing technology by smaller U.S. based manufacturing firms, and partner with the States in developing such technical assistance programs and services for their manufacturing base.

For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. � 278k, eligible applicants shall be U.S.�-based nonprofit institutions or organizations or a consortium thereof; institutions of higher education; or a State, U.S. territory, local or tribal government. Applicants generally must contribute at least 50 percent of the proposed service's capital, annual operating and maintenance costs. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. � 278k-1, eligible applicants are existing MEP Centers. For extension service planning and pilot services agreements under 15 U.S.C. � 278l, eligible applicants shall be State governments or State- affiliated nonprofit organizations. For multi�state regional planning and pilot services agreements, eligible applicants shall be State and local governments, representing either themselves or a consortium of States, or appropriate private or public nonprofit organizations, operating on behalf of a consortium of States or as a representative of States.

Proposals are selected on the basis of merit. For MEP Centers, selection criteria are published in the applicable Federal Register Notice and accompanying Notice of Funding Opportunity. For other programs, selection criteria are published in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Statutory Formula: Title Statutory Formula: Title Chapter, Part 278, Subpart 15 U.S.C. � 278,Public Law 15 U.S.C. � 278.For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. � 278k, applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the capital and of the annual operating and maintenance costs required to establish and operate a MEP Center. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. � 278k-1, there is not a matching share requirement. For extension service planning and pilot services agreements under 15 U.S.C. � 278l, there is not a matching requirement.For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. � 278k, applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the capital and of the annual operating and maintenance costs required to establish and operate a MEP Center. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. � 278k-1, there is not a matching share requirement. For extension service planning and pilot services...