Sherrill Secures Federal Funding to Boost New Jersey’s Manufacturing Sector

Livingston, NJ – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) applauded the announcement of nearly $4 million in federal funding for New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), which will be used to help bolster New Jersey’s manufacturing sector, promote innovation and job creation throughout the state, improve our manufacturing supply chain, and reduce consumer prices. In addition to annual federal funding for this critical program, NJMEP is also being awarded funds for an innovative supply chain pilot program. This funding comes as a direct result of Rep. Sherrill’s advocacy, as she fought to pass the CHIPS and Science Act and FY2023 Appropriations Bill that fund these grants.

“NJMEP is at the forefront of building a world-class workforce that will power the Garden State into the twenty-first century. I was proud to fight hard for this federal funding in partnership with NJMEP that will help them lower costs, invest in workforce development opportunities, and strengthen our supply chains. I look forward to continuing to work towards our shared goals of creating good-paying jobs for working families, leveling the playing field for New Jersey businesses, and ensuring that the U.S. is globally competitive for the future,” said Rep. Sherrill.

Rep. Sherrill has strongly advocated for partnerships between Manufacturing Extension Program centers, manufacturing companies, and the federal government to rebuild US supply chains in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. She helped to lead the National Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Supply Chain Database Act in 2021, voted for $333 million in federal funding for the MEP through appropriations legislation over the past two years, and successfully pushed for the inclusion of a MEP supply chain database in the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022.

As part of this legislation, the Department of Commerce has developed a nationwide database, the Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network (SCOIN), to improve the resiliency and efficiency of domestic manufacturing supply chains. This grant to NJMEP will help ensure that New Jersey’s manufacturing sector can fully participate in this network.

“The Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network (SCOIN) is an important nationwide program to enhance our Supply Chain. The program was started as part of the Semiconductor CHIPS Act managed by the National Institute of Standards (NIST). The program’s objective is to coordinate individual state Supply Chain databases into a coordinated National database. This is one of NJMEP’s more important programs, assisting New Jersey manufacturers in supply chain issues. To date, over 550 New Jersey Companies are utilizing this SCOIN network. We continue to work with individual companies in solving their supply chain needs,” stated Peter Connolly, CEO of NJMEP.

As a member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, Congresswoman Sherrill is working closely with organizations like NJMEP to re-shore American manufacturing, strengthen our supply chains and lower costs for families, and ensure that New Jersey is a place where businesses can grow, create jobs, and thrive.