FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2008
"Manufacturing Matters"
New Partnership Aligns to Create a Matching Grant
Program for Assisting Hampton's Smaller Manufacturers
A new program designed to assist Hampton's smaller manufacturers is a result of a new partnership between the City of Hampton and Virginia's A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership (VPMEP). The City of Hampton recognizes the importance of a strong and prosperous business community and continually looks for new and innovative ways to further assist Hampton's industrial base.
The new program is called the Hampton Manufacturing Assistance Grant Program. It will provide qualified manufacturers with valuable services provided through VPMEP at a reduced cost through matching grants. Such services available through VPMEP include assisting companies in business growth, business effectiveness, quality systems or other manufacturing programs aimed at increasing their competitiveness. Candidates for this matching grant program must meet certain criteria to qualify for the assisted funding. One qualification upfront is that a manufacturer must have 49 or less total employees, and must be physically operating within the City of Hampton. Qualifying companies will undergo a initial assessment to determine the precise services necessary.
The City of Hampton will offset the cost to the company by matching dollar for dollar the investment of the company up to $6,000. The Hampton City Council appropriated $100,000 to fund the matching grants which, if exhausted, will leverage $400,000.
A recent area success story was completed at Hampton Machine Shop Incorporated through VPMEP's service delivery partner the Virginia Applied Technology & Professional Development Center (VATPDC) at Old Dominion University. Hampton Machine Shop experienced dramatic improvements in on-time delivery, first pass yield, and quote response time.
VPMEP's Executive Director Jeff Kohler comments, "Small manufacturers are critical for their significant contributions to the economy of our Commonwealth by providing innovative products, good jobs, and a multiplier effect for local service industries. We commend this progressive approach in supporting local manufacturing by the civic leadership in the City of Hampton."
"This new program is tangible evidence of City Council delivering on its commitment to support the growth and success of existing businesses in the city. Small, existing businesses in the U.S. create 90%+ of all jobs in our economy every year. Hampton recognizes this and is deploying its economic development resources accordingly. Hampton, and this region, has a proud tradition of excellence in manufacturing. We know manufacturing matters in the growth of our economy and creation of high paying jobs. This program addresses that reality for our small manufacturers," stated Vice Mayor, Randall A. Gilliland.
A kick-off meeting presenting the Hampton Manufacturing Assistance Grant Program will be held Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. at the ARC of the Virginia Peninsula, located at 2520 58th Street in the Copeland Industrial Park.
About City of Hampton, Department of Economic Development:
The city's Department of Economic Development works to create a healthy business environment that will encourage job creation, business attraction, and business retention. It has a knowledgeable team of development professionals that help point new or existing businesses in the right direction with a variety of tools including: building and site selection, permits, incentives, financing, customized training, technology assistance, or any other requirement. For more information please visit www.hamptonva.biz
About Virginia's A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership:
VPMEP, an institution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a full-service consulting and technology transfer organization serving industries throughout Virginia since 1996. In addition, VPMEP is part of a national network of more than 59 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate centers linked together through the US Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The NIST affiliation brings a state-of-the-art knowledge base and access to a national network of expertise, assuring clients that the latest technical knowledge will be brought to bear on their problems. To learn more about VPMEP please visit www.vpmep.org.
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