[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 67618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33762]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory Board

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Open Meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 
2, notice is hereby given that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
(MEP) National Advisory Board, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST), will meet to hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 
21, 1998. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory 
Board is composed of 9 members appointed by the Director of NIST who 
were selected for their expertise in the area of industrial extension 
and their work on behalf of smaller manufacturers. The Board was set up 
under the direction of the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology to fill a need for outside input and advice 
for MEP, a unique program consisting of centers in all 50 states and 
Puerto Rico which are created by a state, federal and local 
partnership. The Board works closely with the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership to provide input and advice on MEP's programs, plans and 
policies. The purpose of this meeting is to delve into areas the Board 
selected at the previous meeting. On January 21, 1998, the agenda for 
the meeting of the Board will include an ethics briefing by the 
Department of Commerce's Ethics Division, an overview of MEP's national 
marketing efforts to assist the centers in reaching their clients, 
studying the impacts of services provided by the centers and an 
overview of a national initiative-supply chain integration.

DATES: The meeting will convene on January 21, 1998 at 9:00 am and will 
adjourn at 3:00 pm.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Building 101, Employee Lounge 
(seating capacity 60, includes 15 participants), at NIST, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MEP services to smaller manufacturers 
address the needs of the national market as well as the unique needs of 
each company. Since MEP is committed to providing this type of 
individualized service through its centers, the program requires the 
perspective of locally-based experts to be incorporated into its 
national plans. The MEP National Advisory Board was set up at the 
direction of the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to maintain MEP's focus on local and market based needs. The 
MEP National Advisory Board was approved on October 24, 1996, in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app.2., to 
provide advice on MEP programs, plans, and policies; assess soundness 
of MEP plans and strategies; assess current performance against MEP 
program plans, and function in an advisory capacity. The Board will 
meet three times a year and reports to the Director of NIST. This will 
be the first meeting of the members in 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Acierto, Assistant to the 
Director for Policy, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 
Telephone number (301) 975-5033.

    Dated: December 22, 1997.
Michael R. Rubin,
Deputy Chief Counsel for NIST.
[FR Doc. 97-33762 Filed 12-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M