NIST awards $50 million to manufacturing efforts against COVID-19

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a total of $50 million in emergency funding to support U.S. manufacturers in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will allow the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to help manufacturers increase production of products that support the response to the pandemic – such as personal protective equipment (PPE) – reach new suppliers or markets, recover from workforce and supply chain interruptions, and achieve greater resilience.

“This administration is proud to support manufacturers across the nation as they face this unprecedented health and economic situation,” says Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The funding provided through MEP will help to reinvigorate the economy and, in particular, improve the competitiveness of our small and medium-sized manufacturers and those in rural locations.”

The funding represents a one-time allocation from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by President Donald Trump. Under the act, MEP centers may accept this funding without the private contribution match normally required by the MEP program. The centers may use these awards for new initiatives to increase production of PPE, establish new supplier relationships, or, more broadly, to support a national manufacturing recovery from the crisis.

“I am deeply grateful to the NIST team for getting this funding allocated in record time,” says Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Walter G. Copan. “MEP continues to deliver for U.S. manufacturing, strengthening the resilience of our economy and supply chains.”

The funding awards to the 51 MEP centers range from $91,000 to $6.1 million and have performance periods ending on or before Sept. 30, 2021. Due to the critical need for funding, all awards were made within 90 days of the passing of the CARES Act.