At CEI, we often hear “wow, you’re a best-kept secret.” It’s not what anyone wants to hear, but it happens. Today, we’re going to share another “best-kept secret” – the Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Adam Fuess recently joined CEI CEOs to share more about how this group works. MEP is all about making connections and helping you get your product produced and into the market. Besides the experience of the team members, they also have a network of vetted third-party advisors ready to tackle your projects, ensuring smooth sailing from start to finish. The best part? You get a free advisor like Adam who helps you navigate the process of finding resources that are a good fit. What’s impressive is the range of services MEP offers. They can help with exporting, financial reviews, and so much more. How is this possible?
MEP is funded by a government grant, which allows them to provide these valuable services to Arizona companies. Adam highlighted an upcoming hot topic – cyber compliance for companies working with government organizations. This is slated to start in 2025, so it’s definitely something to keep on your radar.
MEP also offers training programs and workshops designed to give you a competitive edge. From supply chain management to lean manufacturing, they provide on-site improvements and even Lean green belt training. The most popular workshops include Introduction to Lean, Leadership Development, Supply Chain, and CMMC/Cyber Security Compliance.
It’s worth noting that the MEP needs feedback from their clients to measure impacts after doing any project. This is accomplished through a questionnaire sent out by NIST. Responses to the questionnaire are tallied to show the impact the program has in Arizona, and it helps ensure further grant funding of the program.
Ready to take your manufacturing startup to new heights? Visit azmep.org or check out azcommerce.com (look under the programs tab) to learn more about their services, incentives, grants, and even pitch competitions.
Our ecosystem is full of great resources. If you want to discover even more, take a look at our resources page. Don’t let this valuable resource remain a “best-kept secret” – take advantage of what MEP has to offer and watch your business thrive.
