Impact Washington, the Washington State MEP Center, is inviting Washington based US Small-and medium-sized manufacturers (SME's) to apply for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funds. These funds provide services that directly support the manufacturer's ability to recover from the coronavirus. 

Since March, Impact Washington has mobilized its Manufacturing Network to respond to the needs of Washington manufacturers through the COVID-19 pandemic.  "As Washington's trusted resource for a thriving manufacturing industry, we are committed to assisting small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) across the State, said Deloit R. Wolfe Jr., President and Center Director for Impact Washington.  Impact Washington is here to help with technical assistance, training, and consulting services to help manufacturers survive, restart, and prosper beyond today's challenges."

The available funds were awarded through the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through a formal Request for Applications, Impact Washington applied to the NIST MEP Emergency Assistance Program for a portion of the nearly $50 million allocated. 

"For more than 30 years, NIST MEP has supported U.S. manufacturing and built a national network that can immediately reach over a third of U.S. manufacturers," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Walter G. Copan. "The MEP centers have the expertise to help client companies make the products needed to fight this pandemic, and to help manufacturers across the supply chain weather this storm." 

The investment through the NIST MEP Emergency Assistance Program will support investments in a wide range of manufacturing activities.

Examples of project funding through CARES Act Recovery Assistance include:

• Production ramp-up/automation assessment and solutions
• Supply optimization/disruption planning
• Adjustments in plant design or workforce methods and approaches
• Onboarding and upskilling new and returning employees
• Risk mitigation in the face of added stress: cybersecurity vulnerability, business continuity planning, change management

Eligible applicants include manufacturers, producers, and value-add processors in agriculture, food and beverage, seafood processing, aerospace products and parts, wood and paper products, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and medicine manufacturing, maritime, clean technology, and more. 

There are specific requirements for recipients of the Impact Washington Recovery Assistance Funds. Impact Washington will work closely with facilities to determine whether they are eligible to receive funds. The opportunity to attain support will remain open until funding is no longer available. The amount of funding available to each manufacturer depends on its size and project scope.

The opportunity to attain support will remain open until funding is no longer available. The amount of funding available to each manufacturer depends on its size and project scope.

There is no formal application process– a facility’s inquirer into getting the funds starts with a no-cost Recovery Assessment. Visit Impact Washington Recovery Assistance Funds or contact your regional Account Executive for additional information.