On Monday, President Obama released the Fiscal Year 2016 federal budget proposal to Congress outlining his priorities for the coming year. In releasing the budget, the President said he wanted to ensure that we “invest in America’s future and commit to an economy that rewards hard work, generates rising incomes, and allows everyone to share in the prosperity of a growing America.”

NIST and NIST MEP are part of this effort to ensure a growing economy. The President has proposed a fiscal year budget for NIST of $1.1 billion, which is $255.8 million above the FY 2015 enacted level and $141 million for MEP, which is $11 million above the FY 2015 budget.

For NIST, the largest portion of the requested increase, $150 million, would support two new National Network for Manufacturing Innovation hubs coordinated by NIST and created to accelerate development and adoption of cutting edge manufacturing technologies.

• Click here to view the NIST Budget Press Release
• Click here to view the MEP Budget Sheet.

For questions contact Kari Reidy at kari.reidy@nist.gov.

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Manufacturing Day 2014 is now behind us and the official numbers are in: 1,679 events in all 50 states and 3 Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico, with nearly 400,000 participants (live and virtual events). You “smashed all participation goals!” The national team is working on many improvements for 2015 and we’ll share the new website, logo, resources, and other announcements in the coming weeks.

For more information or questions contact Zara Brunner at zahraha.brunner@nist.gov.

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America's Advanced Industries: What They Are, Where They Are, and Why They Matter
By the Brookings Institute

This report asserts the special importance to America’s future of “advanced industries” sector. Characterized by its deep involvement with technology R&D and STEM workers, the sector encompasses 50 industries, 35 of which are identified as manufacturing. These industries encompass the nation’s “tech” sector at its broadest and most consequential. Their dynamism is going to be a central component of any future revitalized U.S. economy. As such, these industries encompass the country’s best shot at supporting innovative, inclusive, and sustainable growth. For that reason, this report provides a wide-angle overview of the advanced industry sector that reviews its role in American prosperity, assesses key trends, and maps its metropolitan and global competitive standing before outlining high-level strategies to enhance that. View Report

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Gain first-hand market insight on export opportunities in Central America‘s food processing and packaging equipment sectors.

This webinar will provide valuable information to both new and experienced exporters on business opportunities for U.S. companies offering competitive food processing and packaging equipment.  Companies will learn about best prospects, market entry, free trade agreements, and marketing strategies relevant to this thriving industry-sector in the Central America region. This webinar will also prepare participating U.S. companies for a successful experience during the upcoming Trade Mission to Central America in conjunction with the Trade Americas – Opportunities in Central America Conference scheduled for June 21-26, 2015. 

Cost: $45 - Payable by credit card or check  Link to Register: click here.

For more information Contact: Jessica Gordon at Jessica.Gordon@trade.gov or (601) 373-0784 Todd Hiser at Todd.Hiser@trade.gov or (216) 522-4756

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The focus of this meeting is to learn how to make a CRM system “stick” by providing effective training for end-users such as Business Development personnel, MEP Staff and the Field Service.
Bill Mullane of TechHelp (Idaho MEP), and Tim Clark of Catalyst Connection (Southwest PA MEP), will lead the discussion and show how their centers are implementing the training aspects to their CRM systems.

Webinar Details: Link | Meeting Number: 1-866-2182764  | Conference Number: 801 896 4070 | Contact Phillip Wadsworth or Dileep Thatte.

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Calling all Improvement Kata or Coaching Kata practitioners and those who would like to be to attend the first-ever Toyota Kata Summit. This event brings together the rapidly growing world of Kata users and emphasizes experiential learning so practitioners, trainers and consultants can integrate practice of the Improvement Kata / Coaching Kata routines into their teams and organizations.

Enter promo code "MEP" for a 10% discount. For more information and to register, please visit www.katasummit.com.

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What happens to small businesses if sensitive information falls into someone else’s possession? What would it cost to be without some or all of your business’s sensitive data?

On February 19th NIST will help answer these question and discuss the Cybersecurity Framework and key small business initiatives being undertaken by NIST. The webinar can benefit MEP clients that are struggling to protect their data and help them manage and reduce cybersecurity risks. This hour-long webinar will provide an overview of the Framework and highlight best practices and resources available to assist manufacturers of all sizes.

Webinar Details:Webinar Link | Watch Video | Contact Samm Bowman.

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This two day class will teach you the equipment related techniques for a successful & sustainable TPM program. For further details click here.

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In support of the Food Processors Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Center (MTAC) Project, Oregon MEP is hosting a webinar to discuss the importance of water management and how emerging technologies can help industries safely remove solids from their operations' waste water.  For further details click here. For questions contact Clara Asmail or Linda Wechsler.

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Join guest speaker Maureen Mulcahy, Project Coordinator for the Make It In America Initiative, and learn why reshoring and the creation of regional supply chains are on the rise. See how your business can make better sourcing decisions with a Total Cost of Ownership (or TCO) analysis. In addition, you’ll learn about the supplier scouting assistance available when you reshore your supply chain within PA and about the new Reshore2PA website To register, click here.

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