NIST MEP Awards $1M Grant to MEPOL to Assist Louisiana Manufacturers Affected by Hurricane Harvey

BATON ROUGE – The Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana was awarded a $1 million two-year grant by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) MEP on September 20, 2017. The Hurricane Harvey Grant will assist manufacturers in Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Harvey, which dumped an estimated 27 trillion gallons of water on Texas and Louisiana, is one of the most damaging natural disasters in U.S. history. Since it’s landfall on August 25, 2017, Harvey also brought extensive flooding in and around Houston and Beaumont before it dissipated and made its way inland toward much of Southwest Louisiana.

The funds will be used for manufacturing clients in the following 12 disaster-declared parishes: Acadia, Allen, Iberia, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vermillion.

Through various assessment tools, MEPOL will select and focus on manufacturers located in these 12 parishes that have experienced some damage and are rebuilding, manufacturers who have had disruptions to their supply chain and distribution channels, and manufacturers unaffected initially by hurricanes, but who expect impact within one year due to short term and long term employees, customers or supply chain adverse impacts. For impacted manufacturers that are interested and selected, MEPOL will provide business assessment and evaluation services to assist manufacturers that can include a review and recommendations related to all aspects of the manufacturing operation, including business practices, customer retention and expansion, quality certifications, cybersecurity, product line enhancements, manufacturing workflow optimization, and process automation.

“Weather related events like Hurricane Harvey play havoc on Louisiana manufacturers. To support efforts and help manufacturers be positioned to fully recover, sustain and grow in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, MEPOL applied for and received this federal grant,” said Mike Wolff, director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana. “If you are a manufacturer located in one of the 12 disaster-declared parishes, please reach out to MEPOL to discuss your business needs and learn how we can best support you to strengthen your operation and grow your bottom line.”

MEPOL is a partner of the National Institute of Standards and Technology as well as a national network of Manufacturing Extension Partnerships based in every state and operated by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS). MEPOL provides a full range of services to manufacturers, including growth and cost-reduction strategies, website development and branding, process and quality improvement, engineering and prototyping, facility layout, and leadership training. All activities are focused on increasing productivity, profitability, and manufacturing success. MEPOL also can connect manufacturers to workforce development services offered by all 13 LCTCS colleges.

If you are a manufacturer located in one of these 12 disaster-declared parishes, please contact MEPOL Business Development Director, Scott Uffman, at scott.uffman@mepol.org or (225) 266-0520 to review your needs and opportunities available through this grant and MEPOL services.