CONNSTEP named as Connecticut’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center

March 3, 2015 | By Business Wire News

ROCKY HILL, Conn.

CONNSTEP, Inc., a consulting firm that helps Connecticut businesses drive competitive advantage in the manufacturing marketplace, today announced the award of a new cooperative agreement from The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to manage the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) as Connecticut’s MEP center. The program assists small- and mid-size manufacturers to foster job growth, increase profits, and gain new clients, by streamlining their production processes. As part of the MEP system, CONNSTEP has access to over 1,600 subject matter experts in all manufacturing sectors. The 5 year agreement brings $7.4 million of federal support into the State to promote the growth of Connecticut manufacturing companies.

Since 1994, CONNSTEP has obtained strong impacts in the manufacturing marketplace. In the past two years, they have helped companies increase $527 million in retained and $108 million in new sales, while saving costs of $127 million to help increase company investments of $80 million. These impacts, along with program activities that align with state and federal priorities and solid business and industry partnerships, enabled CONNSTEP to be selected as one of the 10 state centers nationwide in the first step of a multi-year effort to update MEP’s funding structure.

“We are honored that CONNSTEP was awarded this agreement. The term increase from 1 to 5 years allows us to strategically plan for long-term projects. We will be able to reach more of the marketplace and offer new services for growth and innovation, technology acceleration, and workforce development. We acknowledge our U.S. Senators and Congressional Delegates who continue to support CONNSTEP and the NIST MEP mission. Investment in manufacturing initiatives supported by Governor Malloy and Commissioner Smith of DECD, continue to leverage federal assistance for sector programs. This is a true sense of collaboration to keep manufacturing as a major economic driver in our state”, says Bonnie Del Conte, President, CONNSTEP.

About CONNSTEP

CONNSTEP is a consulting firm that helps Connecticut businesses to grow strategically; improve operations, profitability, and efficiencies; and drive competitive advantage in the manufacturing marketplace. Their comprehensive portfolio is focused in the areas of: continuous improvement, business growth services, quality management, lean healthcare, and environmental/energy sustainability. CONNSTEP has an equal balance of state and industry experience with experts from the manufacturing world. Projects are always independently-verified for accurate results. For more information about CONNSTEP, visit http://www.connstep.org/learn-more/

About NIST MEP

For more than 27 years, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership has been committed to strengthening U.S. manufacturing through services and partnerships. For more information about NIST MEP, visit http://www.nist.gov/mep/