Knollenberg saves job-creating manufacturing program
July 1, 2008

This week, Congressman Joe Knollenberg stood up for Michigan and took on both the Bush Administration and his colleagues in Congress to save a program that has created or retained nearly 10,000 Michigan jobs in the last eight years.

Republicans and Democrats alike targeted the Manufacturing Extension Partnership for drastic reductions, but Joe said “No!”  The program, which works with small businesses in Michigan and across the country, helps those companies stay in business by teaching them cost-saving manufacturing techniques that give them a competitive edge.  As a result, they grow, thrive, create new jobs, and make our economy stronger.

Seeing that the program was in jeopardy, Congressman Knollenberg offered an amendment to save it and convinced Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to offer their support.  Knollenberg says that he is glad the program will continue.

“Eliminating this vital program would be entirely unacceptable, and I’m glad that Congress has stood with our workers and our manufacturers by making sure the MEP continues,” Knollenberg said.

“Small manufacturers employ more than 10 million Americans. I have 1,500 small manufacturing firms in my district alone. MEP is a proven program that helps small American manufacturers compete in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. We should do everything we can to help these firms, the backbone of our American economy, grow and succeed. This is all the more true when we face economic hardships, as we have in Michigan for some years and as we’re starting to see nationwide.

“MEP is a program that works and works well. It helps companies improve their efficiency, productivity and profitability. I will lead the charge against any opposition, whether it is from President Bush or my fellow Appropriators, to ensure that MEP is fully funded. It is simply that important to protecting jobs and growing our economy.”

MEP is a national program that helps small manufacturers streamline their operations to maximize efficiency, productivity, and profitability. This allows firms to create high-paying jobs and more effectively compete in the global marketplace. (Learn more about MEP at http://www.mep.nist.gov/)

In fiscal year 2007 alone, MEP helped to create or retain over 52,000 jobs, generate more than $6.765 billion in sales, and stimulate more than $1.65 billion in economic growth. In Michigan alone, MEP has helped to create or retain 9,971 jobs since 1999 and spurred $922.1 million in investments.

Congressman Knollenberg knows what it takes to make businesses successful and to create new jobs.  He built his own small business in Oakland County before heading to Congress. 

Read more about Joe’s background here >>>

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