Granite State Times

(Washington, DC) – On May 12, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) - Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies that funds the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced with Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) that New Hampshire will receive $400,000 in funding from NIST, which was funded through the fiscal year 2023 government funding law, to help New Hampshire’s small and medium-sized manufacturers fully participate in Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network. The CHIPS and Science Act that Senator Hassan helped develop and pass into law created the National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network, a new supply chain and manufacturing resiliency initiative designed to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers build resilient, local supply chains and strengthen manufacturing capabilities. The MEP National Network helps manufacturers to meet critical needs, ranging from process improvement and workforce development to specialized business practices, including supply chain integration, innovation, and technology transfer.

“The economic hardships and supply chain challenges we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for a strong American manufacturing base and robust domestic supply chain. That’s why I routinely fight for ample federal resources for the National Institute of Standards and Technology – so the United States can out innovate and out build our global competitors, like China. This new award reaffirms those priorities and I’m thrilled to see these federal investments that will support small and medium-sized manufacturers to engage with the MEP National Network,” said Senator Shaheen, chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which provides funding for MEPs. “MEPs empower our entrepreneurs with the resources and backing they need to develop innovative products and good-paying jobs in our communities. This federal award is an important example of how national bills and priorities can have a local impact.”

“This important federal funding will provide New Hampshire’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership with additional resources to strengthen our supply chains and help small and mid-sized businesses in New Hampshire thrive. I worked to develop and pass into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen New Hampshire’s economy, and a key part of that is helping our businesses address supply chain challenges. I look forward to seeing this funding in action," Senator Hassan said.

“New Hampshire manufacturers create critical resources and products that power our economy and move our country forward,” said Congresswoman Annie Kuster. “I’m thrilled to see this funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology heading to our state to bolster this important industry and help local businesses continue to grow, innovate, and thrive.”

“For our national security and economy, it’s critical we strengthen American manufacturing,” said Congressman Pappas. “This funding will help small and medium-sized New Hampshire manufacturers who participate in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Network thrive, create good-paying jobs in New Hampshire, and strengthen our supply chains. I’ll always support investments in American innovation and manufacturing to boost our economy and global competitiveness.”

According to clients surveyed in fiscal year (FY) 2022, the MEP National Network helped manufacturers achieve $18.8 billion in new and retained sales, $2.5 billion in cost savings, $6.4 billion in new client investments and helped to create and retain more than 116,700 U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Senators Shaheen and Hassan have worked to support New Hampshire’s manufacturing sector and the U.S. supply chain. In 2020, the Senators and a group of lawmakers introduced the MEP Crisis Response Act to help MEP centers stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the FY23 annual defense bill that was signed into law, Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully included her bipartisan Homeland Procurement Reform Act to strengthen the domestic supply chain for national security-related items and bolster the government’s ability to reliably access these critical materials that the Department of Homeland Security needs, particularly during a national emergency. Last month, the Biden administration announced $50 million in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law to implement a Shaheen provision to help states ensure that smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing are more accessible for small and medium-sized domestic manufacturing firms. Both Shaheen and Hassan were lead negotiators of the bipartisan infrastructure law. Senator Hassan also helped develop and pass into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which is strengthening our economic and national security. The law is helping to support our supply chains, lower costs, and ensure that America can outcompete countries like China by investing in research and manufacturing here at home. 

Original source can be found here.