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The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center gets money through the support of Montana Federal delegation

Government gives more than $500,000 to extension center

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Reporter

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center http://www.mtmanufacturingcenter.com/ in Bozeman will get more than $500,000 from the federal government this year — its share of an almost $106 million program designed to help small U.S. manufacturers.

The Omnibus Appropriations legislation passed by Congress last week restored full funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The Montana center is in that partnership.

The partnership, including 400 centers in the United States and Puerto Rico, is designed to provide technical assistance and business support services to America’s smallest manufacturers.

Originally, President Bush’s budget proposed an 88 percent cut in funds for the program this year. However, members of Congress, including senators Max Baucus and Conrad Burns and Rep. Denny Rehberg, rallied to restore full funding, said Deborah Nash, technical writer for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center.

The federal money must be matched by funds from private businesses and other sources. The center receives $200,000 a year from the State of Montana.

Nash said the centers, especially those in rural states, serve small clients that large consulting companies usually won’t handle.

"Nearly three-quarters of Montana’s manufacturers have less than 10 employees," wrote Steve Holland, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center director in a news release. "More than 95 percent have less than 100 employees. These companies would have little or no access to consultants who specialize in manufacture."

The center’s six field engineers work to help business owners design manufacturing facilities that are efficient and meet business goals.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030222/localnews/1038985.html

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