As part of its multiyear effort to update funding for Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), U.S. Commerce Department's NIST will award $27 million to organizations in 9 states – AK, ID, IL, MN, NJ, NY, OK, WA, and WV – to operate centers that help manufacturers innovate, compete, and grow. "These new agreements," according to NIST Director Willie E. May, "will allow the centers to provide increased support and reach new customers." Two remaining awards are still in process.