Provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide national supply chain optimization and to establish a supply chain intelligence network

The National Institute of Standards and Technology within the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a $400,000 cooperative agreement to the Ohio Department of Development under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership federal grant program (CFDA 11.611). The two-year award running from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2025 will support efforts to expand existing manufacturing extension capabilities in Ohio and establish a supply chain intelligence network. Funds will be used to conduct market intelligence studies of key industries, recruit original equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and upskill state staff in supply chain optimization and resilience areas. As the prime recipient, Ohio Development will subaward funding to six subrecipients - Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network, University of Dayton Research Institute, TechSolve Inc., Columbus State Community College, and Cift - to deliver manufacturing extension services to small and medium enterprises across Ohio.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide national supply chain optimization and to establish a supply chain intelligence network. Improve the resiliency and optimization for domestic supply chains in the MEP national network in the state of ohio.

Activities

Ohio MEP plans to: gain a better market understanding of three of ohio?s primary existing and complimentary emerging markets: 1. Automotive and electric vehicles (EV), 2. Aerospace and fabricated metals and 3. Chemicals and plastics (impacts the semiconductor segment). Upskill our ohio MEP staff in order to gain supply chain certification to proficiently support ohio?s manufacturers in all areas of supply chain optimization and resilience including, but not limited to product development; marketing; process improvement and optimization; digital transformation; cybersecurity; expanded support for adopting advanced technology upgrades and transitions; and sustainability. Recruit original equipment manufacturers (oems), large manufacturers (buyers), and smms in ohio to create a stronger statewide and national community for all U.S. Manufacturers to on-shore and near-shore their suppliers whenever possible in order to procure goods, products, materials, and services from U.S. Sources.

Expected outcomes

Ohio MEP will achieve the following outcomes during this two-year pilot: 95% response rate on supplier scouting opportunities from NIST MEP. 1. Completion of the ohio market intelligence study of three primary/emerging industries in year 1 (june 1, 2023 ? May 31, 2024). 2. Recruitment of (1) large OEM per region (6 total) and 100 smms per region (600 total).

Intended beneficiaries

Small and medium-sized manufacturers (smms) in the state of ohio.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient will subaward funds to all six of their long-term subrecipients.