WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Herb Kohl announced the Senate's version of the Fiscal Year 2011 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill provides $129.7 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).  The MEP has enabled Wisconsin manufacturers to remain competitive, cut production costs, and retain and create jobs.   

In April, Senator Kohl was joined by 47 Senators in urging Senators Barbara Mikulski and Richard Shelby, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, to provide $129.7 million in funding for MEP in the FY 2011 bill. Additionally, Senator Kohl introduced legislation last month to reauthorize funding for the MEP program through Fiscal Year 2015.  

"Keeping Wisconsin's small and medium-sized manufacturers competitive in the global marketplace is essential to the state's economy.  For the past 20 years, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program has helped save and create good-paying manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin and across the nation," Kohl said. "At a time when unemployment is high, we need a strong manufacturing sector to contribute to job growth and sustained support for the MEP continues to be a smart use of federal funding." 

Senator Kohl has long championed the MEP program for its success in ensuring major Wisconsin employers can compete in the global market. Wisconsin is home to two MEP Centers, and in the last year, Wisconsin companies that worked with the two centers were able to save or create more than 1,200 jobs, generate $118 million in sales, make $35.8 million in new investments, and generate $37.3 million in cost savings.  

The MEP, through its centers, provides technical assistance and business consultation to small- and medium-sized manufacturers, enabling them to enhance productivity and competitiveness.  Specifically, MEP centers help these employers to adopt upgraded, state-of-the-art technology, streamline internal and production processes, identify cost inefficiencies, train workers to adapt to every-changing technological environment.