FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             G 96-50
Sept. 5, 1996

Contact: Jan Kosko                MANUFACTURING EXTENSION
         (301) 975-2767           NETWORK NOW OFFERING           
         janice.kosko@nist.gov    SERVICES IN ALL 50 STATES,     
         Julie Rice               PUERTO RICO
         (202) 482-6006

     The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards
and Technology today announced 18 awards for new or expanded
manufacturing extension programs as part of its Manufacturing
Extension Partnership. With today's announcement, MEP now has
affiliate centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The
Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a growing nationwide
system of services and support for smaller manufacturers giving
them unprecedented access to new technologies, resources, and
expertise.

     In commenting on these new awards, President Clinton said, 
"Small business is at the heart of our entrepreneurial economy. I
am proud that through NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership,
top-notch technical and business assistance is now available to
smaller manufacturers in every state to create and retain
high-quality American jobs."

     New centers will be established in 11 states through these
awards announced today: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Oregon, South Dakota
and Washington. The other awards will expand services or coverage
in California, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma
and Pennsylvania.  

      "Today's announcement reflects this Administration's
continuing commitment to assisting our nation's 381,000 smaller
manufacturers," said Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor. "The
Clinton Administration, working through the MEP, and in
partnership with the private sector, is helping smaller
manufacturers improve their competitiveness by offering much
needed advice and consultation on modern technologies and
business practices," he said.   

     Funding to support most affiliates in the MEP network
initially is shared by the federal, state and local partners.
Federal support is matched by state or local funding, fees for
services, and industry contributions. The total amount of
first-year federal funds requested to support the new
MEP-affiliated programs announced today is $19.6 million.
Cost-shared funding by state organizations and others is $21.0
million. (The 18 awards are contingent on negotiations of formal
agreements between NIST and the sponsoring organizations.)  

     While most MEP affiliates have been providing services for
only a year or two, results indicate that MEP's network of
manufacturing extension services is fostering significant
improvements in manufacturing and business performance. Recent
preliminary Census surveys of MEP clients indicate that the
national system is projected to create or save over 30,000 jobs 
annually and help companies achieve sales $550 million higher
than if they had not received MEP services.  

     Independent studies have yielded similarly strong results. A
recent study by the U.S. General Accounting Office reported that
the assistance smaller manufacturers had received from
manufacturing extension programs, including NIST's MEP, had
positively affected their use of technology, the quality of their
product, the productivity of their workers, their customers'
satisfaction, their profits and their ability to meet production 
schedules.  

     A recent evaluation by Nexus Associates Inc. of the New York
Manufacturing Extension Partnership determined that both the
state's smaller manufacturers and the New York economy are
reaping benefits. According to the evaluation, between 1992 and
1994, New York MEP clients, on average, increased their
productivity by 20 percentage points more than a national
comparison group. In addition, the New York MEP generated
millions of dollars in value-added income, created as many as
1,900 jobs and brought in new state tax revenues. 

     The new MEP programs announced today were selected through a
competitive process. They were evaluated based on the
organization's knowledge of the numbers, types and needs of
smaller firms in the proposed service region; technology and
business resources; technology delivery mechanisms; and an
effective management and financial plan. 

     Each center in the MEP network is a partnership, typically
involving federal, state and local governments; industry;
educational institutions; and other sources of expertise,
information and funding support. Centers are non-profit
organizations and are not federal government offices.  

     While each center tailors its services to meet the needs
dictated by its location and manufacturing client base, some
common services are offered by most extension centers. Broadly,
these include helping manufacturers assess their current
technology and business needs, define avenues for change and
implement improvements. Working with other organizations, many
centers also assist companies with quality management, workforce
training, workplace organization, business systems, marketing or
financial issues. 

     A non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department's
Technology Administration, NIST promotes U.S. economic growth by
working with industry to develop and apply technology,
measurements and standards. 

                              - 30 -

NOTE:  A list of the new MEP affiliates and expanded programs is
attached.  More detailed fact sheets for each award are available
from NIST Public and Business Affairs by calling (301) 975-2762.
News and general information on NIST and the MEP is available on
the World Wide Web via Internet at http://www.nist.gov. Smaller
manufacturers can call 1-800-MEP-4MFG to reach the nearest MEP
center. 
               Manufacturing Extension Partnership
                  1996 NEW OR EXPANDED PROGRAMS


ALASKA
Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Alaska. Affiliated with the Alaska
Science and Technology Foundation, the Alaska Human Resource
Investment Council, and the University of Alaska Small Business
Center, and managed by Industry Network Corporation.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $600,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $600,000
Affiliate Contact: Randy Grissom
(505) 843-4250
Media Contact: Teresa Chaparro                                   
(505) 843-4239                                                   

CALIFORNIA
San Diego Manufacturing Extension Center
(New Center)
Serving firms in San Diego county. Affiliated with the Center for
Applied Competitive Technologies-San Diego and UCSD CONNECT. 
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $1,250,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $1,480,000
Affiliate Contact: Bruce D. Spivack
(619) 685-1425

California Manufacturing Technology Center
(Expansion)
Established in 1992, CMTC serves firms in the Los Angeles Basin
through three new manufacturing outreach centers and two regional
offices.  
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $4,300,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $4,300,000
Affiliate Contact: David Braunstein
(310) 355-3060
Media Contact: Bob Bishop                                        
(310) 263-3082                                                   

HAWAII
Hawaii Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Hawaii. Affiliated with the Hawaii
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; the
Hawaii Board of Agriculture; the Hawaii Department of Labor and
Industrial Relations; and the Hawaii Small Business Development
Center, and managed by Industry Network Corporation.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $434,925
Cost-Shared Funds: $434,925
Affiliate Contact: Randy Grissom
(505) 843-4250
Media Contact: Teresa Chaparro                                   
(505) 843-4239                                                   

ILLINOIS
Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Illinois outside the Chicago
metropolitan region. Affiliated with Bradley University. 
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $2,675,131
Cost-Shared Funds: $2,700,000
Affiliate Contact: Bob Weinstein
(309) 677-2264

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Technology Service
(Expansion)
Serving firms throughout Kentucky. Established in 1994 and
affiliated with the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $195,765
Cost-Shared Funds: $195,765
Affiliate Contact: Don Smith 
(606) 252-7801

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Manufacturers Technical Extension Center
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Louisiana. Affiliated with the Louisiana
Productivity Center at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $750,003
Cost-Shared Funds: $750,003
Affiliate Contact: Theodore Kozman
(318) 482-6767

MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Technology Extension Partnership
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Mississippi. Affiliated with the
Mississippi Enterprise for Technology. 
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $888,740
Cost-Shared Funds: $934,000
Affiliate Contact: Dan Morrison
(601) 688-3144

NEVADA
Nevada Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Nevada. Affiliated with the University
and Community College System of Nevada and the Nevada
Manufacturers Association, and managed by Industry Network
Corporation.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $744,475
Cost-Shared Funds: $744,475
Affiliate Contact: Randy Grissom
(505) 843-4250
Media Contact: Teresa Chaparro                                   
(505) 843-4239                                                   

NEW YORK
National Center for Printing, Publishing and Imaging 
(New Center)
CIMSPrint will partner with and act as a printing industry
resource for all MEP affiliates. Affiliated with the Rochester
Institute of Technology.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $424,804
Cost-Shared Funds: $491,100
Affiliate Contact: John Peck
(716) 475-5101

New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(Expansion)
Serving firms throughout New York. Expansion to Long Island, New
York City and upstate New York
outreach centers. Affiliated with the New York State Science and
Technology Foundation.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $2,525,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $2,525,000
Affiliate Contact: John Crews
(518) 474-4349

NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(Expansion)
Serving firms throughout North Carolina. Established in 1995 and
affiliated with North Carolina State University Industrial
Extension Service.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $1,515,822
Cost-Shared Funds: $1,515,822
Affiliate Contact: Bob Edwards
(919) 515-5408
Media Contact: Ruth Ann Greuling                                 
(919) 515-4266                                                   

OHIO
Miami Valley Manufacturing Extension Center
(Expansion)
Serving firms in 23 southwest Ohio counties. Established in 1994
and affiliated with the Edison Materials Technology Center. First
Year Federal Funds Requested: $420,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $420,000
Affiliate Contact: Neil Chaudhry
(513) 258-6190

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence
(Expansion)
Serving firms throughout Oklahoma. Established in 1994 and
affiliated with the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of
Science and Technology.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $194,775
Cost-Shared Funds: $194,775
Affiliate Contact: Randall Goldsmith
(918) 592-0726

OREGON
Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Oregon. Affiliated with the Oregon
Advanced Technology Consortium Inc.  
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $888,577
Cost-Shared Funds: $1,262,051
Affiliate Contact: Jeffery Molatore 
(503) 657-6958

PENNSYLVANIA
Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center/Northwest
Pennsylvania Industrial
Resource Center
(Expansion)
Serving firms throughout western Pennsylvania.  
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $729,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $729,000
Affiliate Contact: Thomas Green
(412) 687-0200 x278

SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout South Dakota. Affiliated with South
Dakota State University.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $166,160
Cost-Shared Funds: $166,160
Affiliate Contact: Kent Rufer
(605) 688-4184

WASHINGTON
Washington Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(New Center)
Serving firms throughout Washington.
First Year Federal Funds Requested: $950,000
Cost-Shared Funds: $950,000
Affiliate Contact: Viki Sonntag
(206) 464-6009