Oregon Congressional Delegation Urges Funding to Help Small Manufacturers Boost Productivity, Support Country's Defense.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2003

Members of Oregon's Congressional delegation are strongly supporting a request to include $110 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in the Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriations Bill.

MEP is a nationwide network employing more than 2,000 professionals who help small manufacturers adopt and use the latest and most efficient technologies, processes and business practices. In Oregon, over 500 companies have received services through the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP), and many more could benefit if additional funding was available for the program.

Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Darlene Hooley, Greg Walden and David Wu have signed letters to the leaders of the Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary, urging them to include MEP funding in their appropriations bills. The letters point out the important role of America's small manufacturers in the nation's economic recovery and defense.

"As the U.S. economy struggles with recovery, MEP clients are increasing sales, hiring workers, and investing in plant modernization," say the letters. "Without MEP assistance, many of these small manufacturers may not thrive and this has a direct impact on national security and the war on terrorism. The loss of small and medium-sized firms that participate in the defense supply chain already has taken its toll on our nation's defense readiness."

"The strong show of support from Oregon's Congressional delegation clearly shows that our senators and representatives understand the important role MEP programs can play in our country's economic recovery, and particularly in helping Oregon's small and mid-sized manufacturers to increase productivity and remain competitive," says Pat Murphy, executive director of OMEP. "This is a results-focused, public-private partnership that stimulates the Oregon economy and bolsters our production base to compete globally. Maintaining funding for MEP will produce a significant return on investment for Oregon."

Last February, Congress restored funds in the Fiscal Year 2003 budget to provide at least $105.9 million for MEP, a move that assured small manufacturers in Oregon would continue to have access to the technical assistance and business support services of OMEP through February 2004. The appropriations bill now under development would continue federal funding into 2005.

OMEP is also working to secure state funding that would allow it to help more Oregon companies and to fully access the federal matching dollars that are available. Yesterday in the Oregon Legislature, the House Committee on Trade and Economic Development held a hearing on HB 3198, a measure that would provide OMEP with funding in the 2003-2005 biennium from the Economic and Community Development Fund. The bill was passed out of committee unanimously and now moves to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

The MEP program is evaluated annually on measurable criteria including job creation and retention, client cost savings and investment in modernization. A study by the U.S. Census Bureau found that MEP clients experience productivity gains more than four times greater than comparable firms.

For more information about OMEP's services for Oregon manufacturers, call [phone] or visit OMEP on the web at www.omep.org.