FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  G 94-97
Oct. 31, 1994

Contact:  Michael E. Newman             COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
          (301) 975-3025                ANNOUNCES 15 FEDERAL
                                        GRANTS FOR STATE
                                        TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS


     The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced 15 awards
under the State Technology Extension Program component of the
department's Manufacturing Extension Partnership.  The STEP
grants, totaling nearly $2 million, will enable state projects to
plan, coordinate and implement coordinated manufacturing
extension and modernization activities to serve the competitive
needs of small and medium-size businesses.

     The awards will help states develop plans for providing
companies with better access to a wealth of regional and national
sources of information, knowledge and insight into the use of
modern manufacturing and production technologies. 

     STEP grants provide matching funds (the grantee generally is
required to put up at least 50 percent of the cost of the
proposed project) to qualified proposals from state governments
and public/private, non-profit organizations acting with the
approval of state governments.  The latest awards go to Alabama,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire,
Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and
Wisconsin, and to regional industry efforts located in Maryland
and Oregon.  A list of the organizations selected for awards is
attached. 

     STEP-funded projects help states build their own
infrastructure for technology outreach services by (1) planning
extension systems or technical assistance programs, (2)
supporting the initial implementation of such programs, or (3)
developing links between existing programs and those in other
regions to enhance effectiveness.

     The MEP, managed by the Commerce Department's National
Institute of Standards and Technology, is a nationwide network of
organizations to support U.S.-based manufacturers in increasing
their competitiveness nationally and internationally through
ongoing technological advancement.

     For more information on STEP, contact Douglas Deveraux,
B115 Polymer Building, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-0001,
(301) 975-5020, e-mail: douglasd@enh.nist.gov (via Internet).

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                                1994 Grants


PROGRAM PLANNING
These grants are awarded for planning of extension systems or technical
assistance programs.  Projects might include defining industry needs,
assessing existing extension resources, or developing a statewide
strategic plan for strengthening existing programs.

Alabama

     Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Montgomery, AL

     Award Amount:  $150,000


Arizona

     Arizona Technology Development Authority, Phoenix, AZ

     Award Amount:  $100,000


California

     Bay Area Regional Technology Alliance, Long Beach, CA

     Award Amount:  $150,000


Colorado

     Colorado Advanced Technology Enterprise Inc., Denver, CO

     Award Amount:  $95,287


Idaho

     Idaho Department of Commerce, Boise, ID

     Award Amount:  $50,000


Nevada

     Nevada Industry, Science, Engineering, Technology Inc., Las Vegas, NV

     Award Amount:  $77,630


Puerto Rico

     Economic Development Administration of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
     (FOMENTO), Hato Rey, PR

     Award Amount:  $97,600


Rhode Island

     University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

     Award Amount:  $150,000


Utah

     Utah Office of Technology Development, Salt Lake City, UT

     Award Amount:  $99,880


Vermont

     Vermont Technology Council, South Burlington, VT

     Award Amount:  $90,000


West Virginia

     West Virginia Development Office, Charleston, WV

     Award Amount:  $70,583


Wisconsin

     Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity Inc., Madison, WI

     Award Amount:  $99,775STEP 1994 Grants/3


PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
These grants are awarded for implementation of extension systems or
technical assistance programs.  Projects might include creating a
statewide network of industrial extension agents or instituting a pilot
technology assistance program to serve a particularly important
industrial sector in the state.

New Hampshire

     Regional Manufacturing Technology Center, New Hampshire Technical
     College, Concord, NH

     Award Amount:  $249,558



REGIONAL LINKAGES
These grants are awarded for the development of links between existing
extension programs in the state and with those in other regions to
enhance overall effectiveness.

Maryland

     National Association of Home Builders Research Center, Upper
     Marlboro, MD

     Award Amount:  $250,000


Oregon

     Wood Products Competitiveness Corp., Bend, OR

     Award Amount:  $201,500