Arizona Commerce Authority

Purpose: the Award Recipient Would Be Granted Funding Through a Cooperative Agreement to Operate a Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center in the State of Arizona. the Purpose of This Award Is to Provide Manufacturing Extension Services to Primarily Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers in the State of Arizona. the Proposed Mission of the Recipient Is to Make Every Arizona Manufacturer the Most Successful Business It Can Be. the Underlying Purpose of the Proposed Project Is to Support State and National Economic Development Goals by Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing, Expanding and Strengthening the Arizona Manufacturing Ecosystem, Supporting Regional and National Collaboration, Deploying Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, and Building a Skilled and Resilient Workforce. Activities: the Recipient Would Deliver World-class Services to Arizona's Manufacturers to Help Them Achieve Their Business and Operational Goals. the Team Will Also Engage With Educational Institutions (university, Community College, Technical Schools), Industry Trade Associations, Chambers of Commerce, City/county/state Economic Development Groups, and Other Interested Parties to Further Strengthen Arizona's Manufacturing Ecosystem. Special Attention Will Be Paid to the Implementation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and the Development of a Skilled Workforce by Building Awareness of Manufacturing Career Choices and Supporting the Coordination of Employer Needs With Educational Programs. Outcomes: the Objective of the Mep Program Is to Enhance Competitiveness, Productivity, and Technological Performance in United States Manufacturing. the Recipient Would Continue to Deepen Its Market Penetration and Will Serve at Least 110 Clients in Fiscal Year 2024, Including at Least 54 New Clients, and Will Grow the Client Base by at Least 5 Percent Per Year. It Is Expected That Service Delivery Will Be Approximately Split Evenly With 50 Percent Focused on Top-line Growth and 50 Percent Focused on Bottom Line Performance, Although the Actual Split Will Depend on Client Demand for Different Types of Services. It Is Anticipated That Recipient Would Continue to Achieve Scores of 90 to 100 Percent on Client Surveys Over the Next Five Years. Beneficiaries: the Primary Beneficiaries of the Proposed Activities Would Be the Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers That Utilize the Services of the Mep Center in Arizona, and the Benefits Derived Will Be Increased Revenue, Reduced Costs, Improved Profitability, and More Efficient Operations. Secondary Beneficiaries Include the Large Manufacturers That Rely on the Small and Medium-sized Companies as Part of Their Supply Chains; Arizona Citizens Who Benefit From the Tax Revenue Generated by Manufacturers That Are More Successful; and Arizona's Labor Force, Which Benefits From Plentiful, Higher Paying Manufacturing Jobs. Indirect Beneficiaries Extend Beyond Arizona, as the Center Will Become Part of the Mep National Network, Which Includes 51 Mep Centers Located in Each State and in Puerto Rico. Subrecipients: the Recipient Does Not Propose to Subaward Funds.