Columbus State launching Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Campus News | Monday, January 6, 2020

Columbus State Community College has been selected as the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) business catalyst and service provider for Central Ohio manufacturers to connect with expert growth resources.

The Ohio Development Services Agency has awarded a $900,000 grant to launch the MEP@CSCC project, one of six statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnership providers for the Ohio manufacturing industry. Grant funds will be matched by $400,000 generated in revenue by Columbus State through provided manufacturing services.

MEP@CSCC will help Central Ohio manufacturers grow by offering resources in leadership development, advanced manufacturing, operational support, quality, supply-chain optimization and sustainability, cybersecurity solutions, and internships and apprenticeships.

“Columbus State is honored to be selected to build upon our existing manufacturing industry support programming as an Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership center,” said Jeff Spain, MEP@CSCC project director. “We look forward to connecting regional manufacturers to enhanced services driving profitability, productivity, and innovation.”

Annual goals for MEP@CSCC include:

·         Increasing Central Ohio manufacturing sales by $7.5 million

·         Retaining regional manufacturing sales of $17.5 million

·         Supporting job creation and retention of 250 Central Ohio manufacturing jobs

·         Increasing regional manufacturing investment by $7.5 million

·         Supporting regional industry cost savings of $3.5 million

Managed by the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Ohio MEP is a state and federal initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). To serve the diversity of Ohio’s industrial base, Ohio MEP manages a network of regional affiliate service organizations that are strategically selected and coordinated to serve as a statewide resource to meet the needs of key industry sectors and small manufacturers. Other MEP partners are:

·         Northeast: Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET, Cleveland)

·         Northwest: Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT, Toledo)

·         Southeast: OSU South Centers (Piketon)

·         Southwest: TechSolve (Cincinnati)

·         West Central: FASTLANE (University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton)

The region served by MEP@CSCC is comprised of 12 Ohio counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union.

To learn more, visit mep.cscc.edu.

 

                                              

 

 

 

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