The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) today announced it has received a $1.5 million federal award for small and medium size manufacturers to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding comes as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act that passed Congress in March and was signed into law by President Trump.
“This additional funding enables NCMEP to help more manufacturers address critical national manufacturing concerns and navigate out of this unprecedented downturn,” said Phil Mintz, NCMEP executive director. “We will be able to provide some important services to a limited number of manufacturers at no cost to them.”
NCMEP has already begun to contact manufacturers across the state to gather information on the impact of COVID-19 on operations, workforce, sales and needs. “Potential solutions include those that directly support a manufacturer’s ability to respond to the coronavirus through the accelerated production of Personal Protective Equipment and solutions that support a manufacturer’s ability to improve their competitiveness as the marketplace adapts to the coronavirus disruption,” said Mintz.
The CARES Act included $50 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to help manufacturers prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Through recent CARES Act funding, NCMEP is able to launch the Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) to provide services that support manufacturers’ ability to respond to the coronavirus and improve their competitiveness as the marketplace adapts to the coronavirus disruption. Please respond to this brief survey so that we can determine your eligibility for funded services as well as the impact COVID-19 has had on your business.
About NCMEP
The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is a network of nine North Carolina organizations that provide extension services designed to enhance the productivity, innovative capacity and technological performance of NC manufacturing companies.
Together, they work for a common goal of providing solutions and services that help their clients save time and energy, improve productivity, increase sales, improve profits and create and retain jobs. NCMEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network ™, a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, and NIST MEP in North Carolina.
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