# BONUS: MEPs are at Risk of Losing Funding and Need Your Help

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2025-04-21
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help
- Listen: https://manufacturinghappyhour.com/MEPmatters

## Summary

Host Chris Luecke introduces a bonus episode featuring Paul Van Meter, Nick Golner, and Mike Payne from Making Chips, Megan Zimba from Mavens of Manufacturing, and Jim Mayer from Manufacturing Culture discussing the defunding of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). The guests share specific examples of how MEPs like Impact Washington, the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (iMEC) helped their businesses with automation grants, cybersecurity compliance, and workforce development. They outline a call to action for manufacturers to contact their congressional delegations and share their success stories using the #MEPMatters hashtag to prevent further cuts to the network.

## Chapters

- [0:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=51) Introduction: The MEP Funding Crisis
- [6:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=383) Guest Introductions and MEP Overview
- [12:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=763) Mike Payne: ROI from Oklahoma MEP
- [15:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=951) Nick Golner: iMEC Grant for AR Configurator
- [17:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=1049) Paul Van Meter: MEPs and the Defense Industrial Base
- [20:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=1212) Jim Mayer: Workforce Development and Community Impact
- [25:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=1504) Call to Action: Contacting Congress and Sharing Stories
- [31:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-21-bonus-meps-are-at-risk-of-losing-funding-and-need-your-help#t=1881) Town Halls and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Manufacturing Extension Partnership (other)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (other)
- Impact Washington (other)
- Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance (other)
- Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (other)
- Making Chips (other)
- Mavens of Manufacturing (other)
- Manufacturing Culture (other)
- AS 9100 (other)
- CMMC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Quiet Cut That's Loudly Threatening Small Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-04-19-the-quiet-cut-thats-loudly-threatening-small-manufacturing) (Lights Out)
- [Defunding of the MEPs and How YOU Can Help Stop It: A Special Episode](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-29-defunding-of-the-meps-and-how-you-can-help-stop-it-a-special-episode) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [MEP Impact: Empowering Small Manufacturers with Training, Partnerships and Advocacy w/ Pete Connolly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-02-mep-impact-empowering-small-manufacturers-with-training-partnerships-and-advocac) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Inside Conexus Indiana: The Industry Network Driving Manufacturing Tech and Talent | Ep. 46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-31-inside-conexus-indiana-the-industry-network-driving-manufacturing-tech-and-talen) (Lights Out)
- [Automation 101 with Chris Luecke Manufacturing Happy Hour, Ep #2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-automation-101-with-chris-luecke-manufacturing-happy-hour-ep-2) (Lights Out)

## Citing this page

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