Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center State Competition

The National Institute of Standards and Technology within the U.S. Department of Commerce administers the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which is designed to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers through innovation, collaboration, and technology adoption. This funding opportunity seeks applicants to establish and operate Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers in designated states and Puerto Rico. These centers function as regional hubs that support small and mid sized manufacturers by helping them adopt advanced manufacturing technologies and improve operational performance. The program reflects federal priorities around industrial competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and workforce development. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to expand the adoption and scaling of advanced manufacturing technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and biotechnology. Awardees are expected to identify key manufacturing sectors within their region that present strong opportunities for growth and innovation. They must also address barriers that prevent manufacturers from increasing capacity or capability and facilitate collaboration across industry stakeholders, financial institutions, workforce development entities, and technology providers. The program emphasizes ecosystem building, meaning awardees must connect manufacturers with capital, talent pipelines, and research institutions to drive long term economic outcomes. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, indicating substantial involvement by NIST in project execution. Awards support an initial five year period with the possibility of an additional five year non competitive extension based on performance and funding availability. Funding amounts vary significantly by state, with total anticipated federal funding for the five year period ranging from several million dollars to over seventy million dollars depending on the geographic service area. However, funding is contingent upon annual appropriations and is only guaranteed for the first year initially. Recipients must also meet a minimum non federal cost share requirement of fifty percent annually, which can include cash, in kind contributions, and program income. Eligibility is limited to United States based nonprofit institutions, institutions of higher education, state or local governments, tribal governments, and consortia of these entities. Individuals and sole proprietors are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to manage and operate a center, including establishing an oversight or advisory board, maintaining financial and program management systems, and executing core operational functions. The program also requires strong partnerships with industry and community stakeholders, and applicants must outline governance structures, staffing plans, and strategic approaches in their proposals. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and include standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative, budget documentation, resumes of key personnel, and supporting materials such as letters of commitment and cost share documentation. The project narrative is limited to twenty five pages and must clearly address evaluation criteria including strategy, industrial landscape analysis, performance metrics, and organizational qualifications. Budget narratives must justify all costs and demonstrate alignment with program objectives while complying with federal cost principles. Applications will be evaluated through a multi step review process including administrative screening, merit review by independent experts, and potential interviews or site visits for finalists. Evaluation criteria focus on the strength of the project strategy, understanding of regional manufacturing ecosystems, performance measurement plans, qualifications of personnel and governance structures, and the quality and feasibility of the proposed budget and cost share plan. Final award decisions are made by NIST leadership based on reviewer scores and additional selection factors such as funding availability and alignment with federal priorities. The application deadline for this opportunity is August 21, 2026 at 11 59 PM Eastern Time. NIST expects to complete reviews and issue awards by mid September 2026, with an anticipated project start date of October 1, 2026. Applicants can access additional guidance through a recorded pre application webinar and may submit questions to designated program contacts. The program operates on a competitive cycle and reflects ongoing federal investment in strengthening the U.S. manufacturing base through innovation, workforce development, and strategic partnerships.

Align proposal with advanced manufacturing priorities demonstrate strong regional ecosystem partnerships and clearly justify cost share commitments