COLUMBIA, SC – October 16, 2007 – The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) has been awarded the 2007 Pioneer Award for its work helping minority manufacturers in South Carolina and nationwide. The award was presented to SCMEP President John Irion in Bethesda, MD, by the National Minority Manufacturing Institute (NMMI).

“Our success began at SCMEP,” says David Burton, president and CEO of NMMI. “Were it not for John Irion’s direct support – and all others during and after the pilot initiative at SCMEP – we certainly would not be positioned today to fulfill our mission.”

About SCMEP
The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), headquartered in Columbia, SC, is a not-for-profit organization that helps manufacturers throughout the state solve business and supply chain process problems. Supported by the state legislature and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST), SCMEP offers business and technology assessments, engineering expertise, lean manufacturing solutions, and innovation & business development services to South Carolina manufacturers through its TRANSFORM™ suite of services. SCMEP provides this business and technology support to manufacturers through onsite consultations, partnerships with state technical colleges, research universities, and the S.C. Department of Commerce to provide educational programs, online assessment, and other business tools. Using SCMEP’s services enables manufacturers to see business benefits at a faster rate and enhances economic development in South Carolina. To learn more about SCMEP, call 803.252.6976 or visit the web at www.scmep.org.

About the National Minority Manufacturing Institute (NMMI)
NMMI is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization committed to helping corporations develop, create and retain value-added minority manufacturers as strategic partners. NMMI is organized around the principle that minority manufacturers have a special responsibility to lead the process of capital reinvestment in their local communities in order to gain economic independence and ultimately participate in the practice of philanthropy.  Read more about NMMI at www.nmmisolutions.org.

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