WMEP wins state’s top economic development award

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Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Zone : World class manufacturing
Published : 09 Feb 2007 14:31

MADISON, Wis.– The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) today received the state’s top economic development award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA).

The award was presented at the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in Madison. The award is given once every two years to an organization that has had a significant impact on economic development in the State of Wisconsin.

“It’s a great honor to receive this award, and an exciting day for our organization,” said Mike Klonsinski, WMEP’s executive director. “We certainly appreciate this recognition for our contribution to the state’s economic growth and vitality.”

James S. Haney, president, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and WMEP board member, said the state’s investment in WMEP delivers a substantial return for manufacturers and taxpayers. “I don’t know of any other state supported organization that gets as much bang for the buck as WMEP,” he said.

Since 2001, WMEP has helped more than 1,200 Wisconsin manufacturers implement strategies to boost competitiveness, profitability and growth. During that time, WMEP-assisted firms reported $849 million in economic impact: $589 million in higher sales; $117 million in cost savings; $143 million investment in new plant and equipment; and more than 8,000 jobs created/retained.

“The results speak for themselves. This is an organization with a solid track record that is responding to a critical need in our state’s $44 billion industrial economy,” said Jim Lang, president of New Berlin-based

AdvanTech Manufacturing, Inc. and chairman of WMEP’s board of directors.

The state’s investment in WMEP brings federal dollars to Wisconsin, Lang noted. Since 1996, WMEP has brought back $21 million to help Wisconsin manufacturers improve competitiveness. In addition, WMEP recently secured a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense and nearly $600,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

WMEP’s supplier development program, Accelerate, has been hailed as a model for the nation by IndustryWeek Magazine. The initial pilot program of three original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and 16 suppliers has grown to 10 OEMs and 177 suppliers.

Klonsinski said while he’s proud of WMEP’s accomplishments, “it wouldn’t be fair to accept this award without recognizing the incredible contributions by the state’s manufacturers, who are our customers.

These are the people who get up every day and say ‘How can we do this better?’ Because without that energy, and belief in a better and brighter future, this economic growth would not be possible.”

One of the companies WMEP has worked with is Madison-based TomoTherapy, Inc., which won the WEDA Business Award. WMEP has helped TomoTherapy implement lean techniques throughout its plant.

Looking forward, Klonsinski said WMEP is expanding services to help small manufacturers grow their businesses. A recent WMEP survey reported that 44% percent of Wisconsin’s small manufacturers said they lack the internal resources to implement growth strategies such as new product development, market expansion and sales growth.

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