The new york state department of economic development, doing business as empire state development (ESD), will operate the new york manufacturing extension partnership (NY MEP) to strengthen the…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded a $13.755 million Cooperative Agreement to the New York Department of Economic Development, operating as Empire State Development, on March 1, 2026, to operate the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) under CFDA 11.611.

NY MEP will deliver comprehensive manufacturing extension services to small and mid-sized manufacturers across New York State through a statewide network of regional subrecipients, supported by centralized program management, system-wide marketing, and continuous needs assessment. Core activities include outreach and engagement of manufacturers; delivery of consulting and technical assistance in advanced technology adoption and technology transfer, operational excellence, workforce development, and supply chain resilience; and strategic coordination with state, regional, and national manufacturing initiatives.

The award covers a five-year period through February 28, 2031. Place of performance is Albany, New York. Over the award period, NY MEP will increase the number of small and mid-sized manufacturers served, including very small, rural, start-up, and growth-oriented firms across all ten economic development regions. Expected outcomes include increased and retained sales, job creation and retention, cost savings, accelerated adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies through transformational projects, mitigation of supply chain vulnerabilities, and continuous service improvement through performance measurement and evaluation. NY MEP will build on its track record of meeting or exceeding NIST MEP National Performance Standards annually.

The new york state department of economic development, doing business as empire state development (ESD), will operate the new york manufacturing extension partnership (NY MEP) to strengthen the competitiveness, productivity, and resilience of new york state's (NYS) small- and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMS). NY MEP will expand market penetration, deliver measurable economic and operational impacts, and support MEP national network (MEP NN) priorities. Activities: NY MEP will provide comprehensive manufacturing extension services through a statewide network of experienced regional subrecipients, supported by centralized program management, system-wide marketing, and continuous needs assessment. Core activities include outreach to and engagement of manufacturers; subrecipient and third-party delivery of consulting and technical assistance in areas such as advanced technology adoption and technology transfer, operational excellence, workforce development, and supply chain resilience; and strategic coordination with state, regional, and national manufacturing initiatives. Outcomes: over the five-year award period, NY MEP will increase the number of SMMS served, deepen engagement with transformational and hard-to-reach manufacturers, build on its track record of meeting or exceeding NIST MEP national performance standards annually, and generate impacts as measured by increased and retained sales, job creation and retention, and cost savings. NY MEP will also accelerate manufacturers adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies through transformational projects, assist with mitigation of supply chain vulnerabilities, and continuously improve services through performance measurement and evaluation. Beneficiaries: the primary beneficiaries of this project are NYS SMMS, including very small, rural, start-up, and growth-oriented firms across all ten economic development regions. Broader beneficiaries include NYS' workforce and the communities that depend on manufacturing for quality jobs and economic stability, as well as the extended manufacturing ecosystem (spanning suppliers, startups, service providers, and large industrial firms) that relies on a competitive SMM base to strengthen critical industries, sustain innovation, and reinforce domestic production capacity. Subrecipients: NY MEP will conduct outreach and service delivery through eleven (11) nonprofit subrecipients: ten (10) regional organizations serving NYS' economic development regions and one (1) statewide subrecipient providing system-wide marketing, lead generation, assessments, referrals, and coordination. ESD will retain responsibility for core management, oversight, performance measurement, and alignment with NIST MEP requirements, under guidance from its NY MEP advisory board.