Congress should launch a matching-grant program to assist states in developing manufacturing strategies.

To Do: Assist State-Level Manufacturing Strategies

Small manufacturers power U.S. industry, but many are struggling to compete. Cutting the MEP program would weaken the backbone of America's manufacturing economy.

MEP Program Critical for Small Manufacturers Underpinning America’s Manufacturing Revival

MEP Program Critical for Small Manufacturers Underpinning America's Manufacturing Revival

The administration should direct the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to develop more interstate, sector-based initiatives, since supply chains cross state boundaries.

To Do: Develop Interstate, Sector-Based Manufacturing Initiatives

Congress and the administration should build out the Manufacturing USA network closer to the 45 institutes originally intended.

To Do: Expand Manufacturing USA

Congress should significantly broaden the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program, providing at least $100 million in funding and establishing programs at 20 universities.

To Do: Broaden the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program

Congress should quadruple the budget for the Energy Department’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to fund SME digital upgrading.

To Do: Quadruple the Budget for the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains

The administration should direct the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to provide assessment tools to help SME manufacturers identify and close gaps in their digital workflows.

To Do: Provide Assessment Tools to Help SME Manufacturers Digitize

Congress should create a “U.S. Manufacturing Digitalization Investment Fund” that would provide repayable, low-interest loans to American SME manufacturers to help finance upfront investment in digital manufacturing technologies and solutions.

To Do: Provide Loans to SME Manufacturers to Help Finance Digitalization

Congress should establish an advanced manufacturing scale-up capital program that provides project financing and associated assistance through grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other instruments.

To Do: Increase Funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Recommendation

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Editors’ Recommendations

International Benchmarking of Countries’ Policies and Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers

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To Do: Assist State-Level Manufacturing Strategies

MEP Program Critical for Small Manufacturers Underpinning America’s Manufacturing Revival

To Do: Develop Interstate, Sector-Based Manufacturing Initiatives