Contact: Jan Kosko, janice.kosko@nist.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NIST 96-41
Oct. 17, 1996
Contact: Jan Kosko MEP CENTERS TO DEVELOP
(301) 975-2767 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE
janice.kosko@nist.gov NETWORKS IN 16 STATES
The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards
and Technology today announced that 16 affiliates of its
Manufacturing Extension Partnership will receive funding to help
smaller manufacturers find, access and implement technologies or
techniques that will enable them to be both environmentally sound
and competitive.
"Environmentally sound practices make good business sense.
But, smaller companies often lack resources to learn about and
incorporate these technologies and techniques into their business
practices. This effort, and others being promoted by NIST's
Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Environmental
Protection Agency, are helping these companies be stronger
competitors while reducing impacts on the environment," said MEP
Director Kevin Carr.
The MEP affiliates are: Industry Network Corp. (Alaska),
Connecticut State Technology Extension Program, Florida
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Chicago Manufacturing
Center, Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corp.,
Kentucky Technology Service, Minnesota Manufacturing Technology
Center, Nebraska Industrial Competitiveness Service, New York
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Great Lakes Manufacturing
Technology Center (Ohio), Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial
Resource Center, Southeast Manufacturing Technology Center (South
Carolina), Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, Utah
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Vermont Manufacturing
Extension Center, and A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Center
(Virginia).
Coordinated by NIST's MEP, in cooperation with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the 16 MEP centers will identify
the environmental assistance needs of the state's industries and
the available environmental resources, programs and
organizations. Each center, working in partnership with
organizations in the state, also will develop and implement a
statewide system of environmental services.
Most states already have a broad array of agencies that
provide industry with compliance and regulatory information,
pollution prevention technical assistance and regulatory permits
as well as agencies that inspect or audit companies to ensure
they are complying with regulations. Many of these agencies
operate independently making it difficult for companies,
especially smaller ones, to find the right information or
assistance. By coordinating the resources of these regulatory
agencies and service providers, manufacturers will find it easier
and more efficient to find environmental information and comply
with regulations.
Federal funding from NIST and EPA to develop these
state-wide environmental assistance networks totals $1.6 million.
To leverage federal resources, cost-shared funding totals $1.2
million. NIST solicited proposals for this project through the
June 21, 1996, Commerce Business Daily.
During the past several years, NIST has worked in
conjunction with EPA and other organizations to initiate a number
of activities aimed at helping smaller manufacturers use more
efficient technologies and better management techniques to reduce
or eliminate sources of pollution in their operations. Other
projects include integrating environmentally focused technical
assistance into the broader services provided by MEP affiliates
and a resource on the World Wide Web to provide information on
regulatory compliance and technologies/techniques for preventing
pollution in the metal finishing industry.
With affiliate centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the
MEP is a nationwide system of services and support for smaller
manufacturers giving them unprecedented access to new
technologies, resources and expertise.
A non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department's
Technology Administration, NIST promotes U.S. economic growth by
working with industry to develop and apply technology,
measurements and standards.
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News and general information on NIST (http://www.nist.gov) and
the MEP (http://www.mep.nist.gov) is available on the Internet's
World Wide Web. Smaller manufacturers can call 1-800-MEP-4MFG to
reach the nearest MEP center.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT AWARDS
Following is a list of MEP affiliates that are the lead agencies
in developing statewide environmental assistance networks. For a
complete list of all partners participating in these projects,
call NIST Public and Business Affairs, (301) 975-2762.
Alaska
Industry Network Corporation
Contacts: Randy Grissom, INC, (505) 843-4250
Scott Hawkins, Alaska Small Business Development
Center, (907) 274-7232
Connecticut
Connecticut State Technology Extension Program
Contact: Tab Wilkins, (860) 832-4600
Florida
Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Contact: Rick Korchak, (407) 425-5313
Illinois
Chicago Manufacturing Center
Contact: Helen Squires, (312) 265-2031
Indiana
Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation
Contact: Delbert Schuh, (317) 635-3058
Kentucky
Kentucky Technology Service
Contact: Donald Smith, (606) 252-7801
Minnesota
Minnesota Manufacturing Technology Center
Contact: Todd Loudenslager, (612) 672-3449
Nebraska
Nebraska Industrial Competitiveness Service
Contacts: Ben Hammerschmidt, (402) 471-6988, Office of
Pollution Prevention, Nebraska Dept. of
Environmental Quality
Tommy Thorne, NICS, (402) 437-2535
New York
New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Contact: John Crews, (518) 486-7384
Ohio
Great Lakes Manufacturing Technology Center
Contact: Gus Eskamani, (216) 432-5185
Pennsylvania
Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center
Contact: Carlton Holley, (412) 469-3530 [starting on Nov. 4,
use (412) 687-2700 or (800) 888-88SPIRC]
South Carolina
Southeast Manufacturing Technology Center
Contact: Teresa Garrett, (864) 271-3005
Texas
Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center
Contact: Mike Klonsinski, (512) 936-0235
Utah
Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Contact: Dave Sorenson, (801) 797-3227
Vermont
Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center
Contact: Muriel Durgin, (802) 728-1312
Virginia
A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Center
Contact: Gerry Ward, (540) 666-8890