To strengthen and grow west virginia's manufacturing sector by delivering impactful consulting, training, and support services that enhance the growth, competitiveness, resilience, and productivity of…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded a $1.426 million Cooperative Agreement to West Virginia University Research Corporation on February 1, 2026, to establish and operate the West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WVMEP) under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (CFDA 11.611).

WVMEP will deliver in-plant consulting, training, and technical assistance to West Virginia small and medium-sized manufacturers across rural and urban areas. Services include on-site guidance, tailored projects, workshops, events, and webinars led by experienced consultants, focused on improving operational performance, strengthening supply chains, enhancing resilience, and accelerating technology adoption. WVMEP will also increase statewide awareness of West Virginia's manufacturing sector and contribute to strategic initiatives across the state and the broader MEP network.

Performance outcomes will be measured through an internal performance and evaluation management system (PEMS) and MEP survey process to track cost savings, jobs created and retained, new investments, new and retained sales, and other key performance indicators. Over the five-year period, WVMEP aims to expand service offerings, develop new partnerships to broaden resource availability, and increase market penetration by assisting manufacturers prepare for and adopt new technologies.

The award covers the period February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031, with place of performance in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia University Research Corporation will serve as the direct recipient with no sub-recipients identified under the current proposal. Both West Virginia small and medium-sized manufacturers and the state directly benefit from the funding.

To strengthen and grow west virginia's manufacturing sector by delivering impactful consulting, training, and support services that enhance the growth, competitiveness, resilience, and productivity of smms. Through statewideengagement and industry-focused programs, the effort aims to expand economic opportunities, increase manufacturing capacity, and ensure that west virginia manufacturers thrive in an evolving national and global marketplace.activities: wvmep will work to increase awareness of the state's manufacturing sector and contribute to strategic initiatives across the state and the MEP network. This includes supporting both rural and urban smms through targeted in-plant guidance, consulting, training, and technical assistance to help manufacturers improve performance, strengthen operations, enhance supply chain resilience, and adopt new technologies. This support will be delivered through on-site, tailored projectsand training, workshops, events, and webinars led by experienced consultants and trusted partners.outcomes: over the next five years, wvmep will work to increase market penetration by developing new services, assisting smms to prepare for, adopt, and integrate new technology, and develop more partnerships to provide additional resourcesand support. This growth and expansion will continue to strengthen the MEP program and be measured via an internal performance and evaluation management system (pems), as well as results from the MEP survey process, to measure and document cost savings, jobs created and retained, new investments, new and retained sales, and other key performance indicators (kpis).beneficiaries: both west virgina smms and the state of west virginia directly benefit from wvmep.subrecipients: not applicable under the current proposal.