“ The work WVUIE is doing in partnership with the WVNDIA chapter to build a West Virginia network to support these needs is both innovative and necessary .”
Maj . Gen . ( retired ) James A . Hoyer , Vice President of Economic Innovation , WVU
( 304 ) 293-6831 | wvmep . com P . O . Box 6070 , Morgantown , WV 26506-6070
WVU , along with our lead partner , TechConnect West Virginia , received a grant from the Department of Defense ( DOD ), Office of Economic Adjustment to enhance its capacity to assist West Virginia communities , businesses and workers that may be affected by reductions in DOD spending . In June 2022 , the West Virginia National Defense Industrial Association ( WVNDIA ) was initiated .
WVUIE works with the WVNDIA to support their mission of growing and enhancing the defense industry and federal contracting through networking , collaboration and increasing opportunities for business development . With the chapter ’ s focus on supporting the U . S . Warfighters and related activities , we use our wide-spread outreach and regular communication efforts with the manufacturing industry to inform and educate organizations that may have the capabilities and capacity to support this critical supply chain .
The barriers to entry into the DOD supply chain can be daunting for small manufacturers . Industrial Extension works to bridge the gap in areas that need strengthened to demonstrate the interest and ability of manufacturing in West Virginia to support the DOD .
“ In today ’ s current U . S . national security environment , building back a strong and resilient supply chain for everything from food stock to bench stock is critical ,” says Maj . Gen . ( retired ) James A . Hoyer , vice president of economic innovation at WVU . “ The work WVUIE is doing in partnership with the WVNDIA chapter to build a West Virginia network to support these needs is both innovative and necessary .”
The WVUIE is West Virginia ’ s official representative of the National Institute for Standards and Technology and Manufacturing Extension Partnership ’ s National Network and is just one of 51 centers nationwide fulfilling the mission to sustain , grow and build a stronger manufacturing community in the U . S .
Industrial Extension has direct access to the MEP National Network ’ s
Supplier Scouting services that can be applied on a national , regional or local scale . This national system can leverage the knowledge of U . S . manufacturing capabilities so we can identify manufacturers with production and technical capabilities and connect them with larger companies .
The MEP National Network scouts for products from all industries , providing opportunities for smalland medium-sized manufacturers to grow . By working together domestic manufacturing capabilities and capacities can produce any item needed by our nation ’ s supply chains .
David Satterfield , director of asset development and advisory board chair for WVUIE states that , “ by being part of a national network , WVUIE helps to connect our smalland medium-sized manufacturers to opportunities on a local , regional and national basis . In today ’ s economy , being able to access and capture opportunities , no matter where they are located , is key to the success of our small businesses .”