The Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center (NWMOC), headquartered at UW-Stout in Menomonie, has received grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to help small and midsized manufacturers. The NWMOC is a member of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a national network that comprises 59 MEP centers in the United States and Puerto Rico. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $6,500 and can be used to pay as much as 50 percent of project costs for services provided by NWMOC project managers. The remaining project costs will be paid by the manufacturing company. “With this assistance, we will be able to help manufacturers prepare themselves for growth and profitability in the coming economic recovery,” said NWMOC Director Larry Blackledge. For small to midsized manufacturers (those with fewer than 500 employees) who are interested in undertaking a lean manufacturing transformation, up to $5,000 per company is available. This funding is intended to help manufacturers improve performance in all areas of business. Grants up to $6,500 per company are available for small to midsized manufacturers to implement Eureka! Winning Ways®, a nationally recognized and proven system that accelerates growth and generates ideas for new products and services. These grants are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Project completion deadline is 12/31/10. Interested manufacturers should call NWMOC at 1.866.880.2262 or 715.232.2397.

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