SCIENCE

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA), both agencies of the U.S. Department of Commerce, are providing funding, leadership and technical assistance to the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), which will be leading an invitational policy academy to help seven states develop and implement strategies to grow advanced manufacturing industries. Representatives from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania will participate in the program, which will run Oct. 6-7.

Participating states will receive guidance and technical assistance from NGA staff, experts from MEP, EDA and State Science and Technology Institute, as well as consultants from the private sector, research organizations and academia.

“MEP is proud to be a part of this effort,” said MEP director Roger Kilmer. “Manufacturing is the backbone of the American economy, and events such as these show that  manufacturing plays a vital role in the U.S. economy. Together, we can ‘Make it in America,’ and by doing so, revitalize our economy and create jobs.”

For more information about the academy, please visit www.nga.org/cms/center/ehsw.

For more information on MEP’s involvement, call             (301) 975-5020       or send an email to mfg@nist.gov.