Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension in Canton will continue to play a key role in the state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership as the program has secured an additional five years of federal funding.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology recently announced $12 million in first-year funding to operate Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs in 11 states, including Mississippi. The Magnolia State’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership received $1.03 million in funding and will be administered by the Mississippi Manufacturers Association beginning in April. Previously, the partnership was administered by Innovate Mississippi.

The CAVS Extension center, a major component of the engagement and outreach services offered by MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering, has been a contractual unit of the extension partnership program for nearly 15 years. Under the program, CAVS-E helps approximately 50 small and midsize manufacturing companies every year by providing technical assistance and expertise on the manufacturing process. Since 2006, CAVS-E has reported $6 billion in economic impact from clients. CAVS-E Director Clay Walden said he is pleased to continue supporting the state’s manufacturing economy.

“This will help us go to a new level to deliver economic development assistance,” Walden said. “This is part of who we are as a land-grant university.”

The Mississippi Manufacturing Extension Partnership features affiliates across the state, including Itawamba Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the University of Southern Mississippi’s Mississippi Polymer Institute and CAVS-E.

“We’re able to forge relationships with other universities and community colleges to help meet a company’s needs,” Walden said. “It allows us to work as a team, which is the real power of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.”

CAVS-E has successfully enhanced the production capabilities of companies in the automotive, aviation, defense and furniture industries, among others. More details on the CAVS-E economic impact and success stories can be found at http://www.cavse.msstate.edu/economicimpact/.

As the MEP program moves under the guidance of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, Walden said he plans to continue to strengthen ties with the state’s manufacturing industry.

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MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.