FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  G 94-47
June 17, 1994

Contact:  Michael E. Newman             BROWN, CUOMO LAUNCH
          (301) 975-3025                EXPANDED TECHNOLOGY
                                        SERVICES FOR N.Y.
          Carol Hamilton                BUSINESSES
          (202) 482-6001

     U.S. Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown and New York
Governor Mario M. Cuomo today officially launched the New York
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, an expanded manufacturing
outreach program to help the state's small and medium-sized
companies become more competitive through the adoption of new
technologies.

     The New York MEP, headquartered at the Rensselaer Technology
Park in Troy, N.Y., is the result of four recent awards from the
Technology Reinvestment Project, the federal government's program
to provide funds for dual-use (military and civilian) technology
development, deployment and utilization.  The TRP awards to New
York State were used to expand the extension services provided by
the former Northeast Manufacturing Technology Center, one of the
seven original manufacturing extension centers established by the
Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and
Technology and now being incorporated under the New York MEP
banner.  Specifically, the expansion includes the operation of
four regional New York MEP centers in New York City, Fishkill,
Endicott and Amherst.

     Secretary Brown said, "In a competitive global marketplace,
technological leadership is the surest ticket to economic
success.  The expanded New York MEP will enable the state's
28,000 manufacturers to be networked into the forefront of
technological change."

     "The New York MEP is at the heart of what New York State is
trying to do to help manufacturers become better at what they
do," Governor Cuomo said.  "With field offices in each region of
the state, the New York MEP finds the resources -- be they state
programs or private sources -- to help manufacturers implement
relevant technologies that meet their fundamental needs."

     The New York MEP, operated by the New York State Science and
Technology Foundation, is affiliated with a national network of
technology extension centers, the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership managed by NIST.  It is one of 28 extension programs
funded through the TRP, bringing the current number of centers in
the national MEP to 35.  Plans call for 100 centers in the
nationwide manufacturing extension network by 1997.

     "The New York State Science and Technology Foundation is
proud to have such a vital program under its wings," said Graham
Jones, executive director of the foundation.  "The New York MEP
was designed for manufacturers who want to stay in the ball game
and not be beaten by their competitors.  By tapping into the many
resources available through the New York MEP, manufacturers have
been helped in significant ways."

     For more information on the New York MEP, contact Jeanne
Selmer at (518) 283-1010.

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