Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) are urging support for domestic manufacturers in New Hampshire and across the country in the wake of the Trump Administration’s move to end contracts for 10 Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs. The New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) plays a critical role in supporting new and growing manufacturers in our state – cutting their funding would be detrimental to Granite State manufacturers as the Trump Administration is pushing for more production of goods in America.
Last week Goodlander and Pappas sent a letter to the Trump Administration warning of the devastating consequences this move could have on the economy and the state of manufacturing in America.
The members wrote, “Simply put, to manufacture at home we must support American manufacturers. Denying American workers and small businesses the resources they need to develop their talents, modernize their operations, and grow their business is counterproductive. At a time when we must harness the power of technology to be effective and competitive producers, we must continue to fund MEPs and provide American businesses with the tools they need.”
“The Center staff and I are so thankful and appreciative of Congresswoman Goodlander and Congressman Pappas’s desire and drive to support manufacturing in the Granite State,” said Tony Fernandez, Center Director/President of NH MEP. “They are showing leadership by meeting manufacturers to understand concerns and providing strength and empathy. They realize the vitality NH MEP contributes to manufacturing stakeholders and envision the economic prosperity the State realizes when manufacturing is supported.”
“Manufacturing is the backbone of American prosperity and nowhere is that more evident than in New Hampshire,” said Russell A. Nadeau, Founder & Principal, OPEX Insight Partners LLC. “Throughout my career in the industrial, medical device, aerospace, and automotive sectors, I have seen firsthand how the MEP program helps small and mid-sized manufacturers create and sustain high-quality jobs. Reinstating its funding is not just smart policy, it is an investment in our state’s workforce, our communities, and America’s industrial strength.”
On April 1, the Trump Administration announced it would not renew contracts offering federal support for 10 MEP programs, pulling millions of dollars in funding, provided by Congress. MEP contracts in additional states, including New Hampshire, are expected to be impacted in the same way in the coming months.
The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership was established by Congress in 1988 in response to a growing concern over the loss of manufacturing jobs and a decline in industrial productivity. In a public-private partnership, MEPs provide U.S. manufacturers with timely and dynamic support. Today, there are 51 centers across the United States. This robust network provides small and medium-sized manufacturers with the tools, training, and expertise they need to improve their processes, increase their manufacturing capacity, and bolster their workforce development, cybersecurity, technology adoption, and supply chain management activities.
Since 1988, MEPs have worked with more than 154,000 manufacturers and helped create and retain more than 1.6 million jobs. The network has over 1,440 trusted advisors and experts across 460 MEP Center service locations nationwide. MEPs have also helped create $148.7 billion in sales and $31.6 billion in cost savings. Furthermore, the return on investment for American taxpayers is indisputable – for every federal dollar invested in FY 2023, MEP generated more than $27 in new client investment and nearly $25 in new sales growth for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
