Often in these pages and during workshops and other public events, we encourage the small and medium manufacturers we work with to reach out to elected officials. Get them inside your facilities. Show them how you positively impact your employees and your community. You have a great story to tell. Share it, we urge.
Now we’re taking our own advice. For more than two decades, Enterprise Minnesota has helped small- and medium-sized manufacturers across the state grow profitably. Throughout that time, we have effectively leveraged federal funding to provide affordable consulting services for manufacturers in areas ranging from strategy, marketing, ISO certification, continuous improvement, and talent/leadership development.
That funding, and the expert consulting we provide with it, are now in jeopardy. In early April, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced plans to zero out funding for 10 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers like Enterprise Minnesota and intimated that all other centers across the country would soon lose federal support. While the Trump administration walked back its initial decision and restored this year’s funding for those centers for a period of six months, future federal support is still uncertain.
It’s clear that the administration’s change of heart was influenced by loud and widespread support for small manufacturing companies and their vital role in the communities where they operate. It was also a hearty endorsement of the MEP centers that provide unparalleled assistance to those companies. Within days of the first announcement about funding cuts, dozens of elected officials sent letters, made phone calls, and sponsored legislation in support of MEP centers.
Our advocates understand that as the administration works to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, cutting funding for the MEP undermines those efforts. Centers like ours have achieved extraordinary results — which we need to share.
For every dollar of federal investment in FY 2023, clients of the MEP National Network generated $24.60 in new sales and $27.50 in new client investment. This translates into more than $4.3 billion in new sales. During the same time, for every $1,633 of federal investment, the Network created or retained one manufacturing job.
Enterprise Minnesota’s impact on manufacturers has been equally impressive. We are committed to business operations excellence and have been ISO 9001:2015 certified since 2014. We keep meticulous records and can demonstrate significant ROI.
Highlights of our results from the past five years include:
- Over 510 manufacturing clients supported;
- Positive economic impact of over $696 million in sales reported by clients;
- Reduced client costs by over $131 million;
- Capital expenditures and investments over $289 million;
- Added or retained over 6,600 jobs.
The influence of small manufacturing companies doesn’t end with their own employees and communities. As Bob Kill, Enterprise Minnesota’s president and CEO, points out, these companies are also vital to the success of Minnesota’s larger manufacturers. “Large companies have plants all over the state, and they attract small manufacturers that come in to supply them,” Kill says. “Small manufacturers are the heart and soul of supply chains for the larger ones.”
As they work to achieve the operational efficiency their large company customers expect, many small manufacturers turn to experts from Enterprise Minnesota. Our consultants help these manufacturers as they work to design and produce top quality and cost competitive components for their OEM customers.
The Trump administration has made fortifying American manufacturing a top priority. Enterprise Minnesota’s work fits perfectly with this strategy because it leads to significant ROI for taxpayers while boosting the strength of manufacturers and their communities.
Cutting the growth of the federal budget is a difficult and necessary priority. But few federal programs can so clearly demonstrate their value in the form of better jobs and economic growth. We’ll keep sharing our story so we can continue helping the manufacturers that drive this growth.
Return to the Summer 2025 issue of Enterprise Minnesota® magazine.
