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Workforce, Education and Vibrant 

Ecosystems (WEAVE) Funding Opportunity

Informational Webinar for Eligible Applicants 

Kelley Rogers, Chief, Program Operations Division 

Office of Advanced Manufacturing, NIST

August 14, 2023

An interagency team building partnerships with U.S. industry and academia
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OVERVIEW
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About Manufacturing USA

VISION: Securing U.S. Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing

MISSION: Connecting people, ideas, and technology to:

• solve industry-relevant advanced manufacturing challenges

• enhance industrial competitiveness and economic growth

• strengthen our national security
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Purposes

IMPROVE 

COMPETITIVENESS

SECURE U.S. 

LEADERSHIP IN 

ADVANCED MFG

SCALE 

MANUFACTURING 

TECHNOLOGIES

DEVELOP ADVANCED 

MANUFACTURING 

WORKFORCE

EXCHANGE BEST 

PRACTICES

INCREASE 

PARTNERSHIPS AND 

COLLABORATION

BOOST 

MANUFACTURING 

EMPLOYMENT

DEVELOP 

INNOVATION 

ECOSYSTEMS

PROVIDE SHARED 

RESOURCES AND 

FACILITIES
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GOAL 1 

Increase the 

competitiveness of 

U.S. manufacturing 

GOAL 2 

Facilitate the transition of 

innovative technologies into 

scalable, cost-effective, and 

high-performing domestic 

manufacturing capabilities 

GOAL 3 

Accelerate the 

development of an 

advanced manufacturing 

workforce 

GOAL 4

Promote a network of 

institutes that build longterm support for and from

their communities

Strategic Goals
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Manufacturing USA Network

ELECTRONICS

MATERIALS

ENERGY/

ENVIRONMENT

DIGITAL/

AUTOMATION

Integrated Photonics

Albany, NY

Rochester, NY

Flexible Hybrid 

Electronics

San Jose, CA

Wide Bandgap Semiconductors

Raleigh, NC

Smart Manufacturing

Los Angeles, CA

Modular Chemical 

Process Intensification

New York, NY

Sustainable 

Manufacturing

Rochester, NY

Regenerative 

Manufacturing

Manchester, NH

Bioindustrial

Manufacturing

St. Paul, MN

Biopharmaceutical 

Manufacturing

Newark, DE

Advanced Fibers and 

Textiles

Cambridge, MA

Advanced Composites

Knoxville, TN

Detroit, MI

Advanced Materials

Detroit, MI

Advanced 

Robotics & AI

Pittsburgh, PA

Digital 

Manufacturing & 

Cybersecurity

Chicago, IL

Additive Manufacturing

Youngstown, OH

El Paso, TX

Cybersecurity in 

Manufacturing

San Antonio, TX

BIOMANUFACTURING

EPIXC Industrial Process 

Decarbonization

Phoenix, AZ
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IMPACTS
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Manufacturing USA Network

2022

Impacts

Engage

106,000+ 

people with 

workforce 

knowledge and 

skills in advanced 

manufacturing

Collaborate on

670+

major applied 

research and 

development

projects

Work with

2,500+

Member

Organizations 

Invest

$416M 

in these activities 

from state, industry, 

and federal funds

Our efforts help ensure what’s invented here 

is made here by a skilled American workforce.
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FY 2023 Omnibus
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NIST appropriations to implement Division B of Public Law 117–167 (the CHIPS and 

Science Act) codified in 42 USC § 18971 and 42 USC § 18972.

FY 2023 Omnibus

Statute directs NIST to:

• expand opportunities within Manufacturing USA through integration of ‘covered entities,’

• and to promote domestic production of institute developed technologies.

The WEAVE funding opportunity allows ALL Manufacturing USA institutes to apply for 

special initiative funding to address these directives that are in the national need and 

that are unlikely to be funded by the private sector.
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Covered Entities – Defined in 42 USC § 18971

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

a Tribal College or University

a minority-serving institution

a minority business enterprise (as such term is defined 

15 C.F.R. 1400.2)

a rural-serving institution of higher education (as such 

term is defined in 20 U.S.C. 1161q)
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Funding Opportunity
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The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is the official competition 

document. Nothing in this presentation is intended to contradict or 

supersede the NOFO in any way. Any questions regarding the terms 

of the competition must be resolved by referring to the NOFO.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/viewopportunity.html?oppId=349721

Legal Disclaimer
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Objective

Workforce, Education, and Vibrant Ecosystems (WEAVE) Awards 

will fund high-impact projects within the Manufacturing USA network 

to support vibrant and inclusive advanced manufacturing 

ecosystems and expand successful institute-sponsored workforce 

development programs to promote domestic production of institutedeveloped technologies.

Public Service Funding Opportunity
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WEAVE Focus Areas

1. Partnerships amongst two or more Manufacturing USA institutes to 

build vibrant and diverse ecosystems, through increased engagement 

with covered entities.

2. Partnerships amongst two or more Manufacturing USA institutes to 

pilot new or scale existing initiatives to promote the transition of 

institute-developed technologies into commercial use.

Public Service Funding Opportunity
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Topics Covered Today

Notice of Funding Opportunity

• Eligibility

• Application Deadline

• Scope

• Funding

• Evaluation Criteria

• Application Process
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Eligibility

AFFOA, AIM Photonics, America Makes, ARM Institute, BioFabUSA

BioMADE, CESMII, CyManII, EPIXC, IACMI, LIFT, MxD, NextFlex, 

NIIMBL, PowerAmerica, RAPID, and REMADE.

Only Manufacturing 

USA institutes are 

eligible to apply

Application must be a partnership of two or more current 

Manufacturing USA Institutes

Requirement for 

Multi-Institute 

Proposal Teams

Members of the institutes, individuals, and organizations not 

associated with the institutes are NOT eligible to apply under this 

NOFO; however, they may participate as part of an institute’s team.

Ineligible applicants
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Funding

PROPOSALS UP 

TO $3.5 M

NON-FEDERAL COSTMATCH IS NOT 

REQUIRED

PERIOD OF 

PERFORMANCE: 

up to 24 

MONTHS
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11:59PM ET

Oct 2, 2023

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/viewopportunity.html?oppId=349721

Application Deadline
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Scope

All proposed projects within the scope of the two focus 

areas will be considered responsive to this NOFO.

In forming partnerships and project teams across 

institutes, NIST encourages outreach to, recruitment of, 

and engagement with diverse stakeholders to maximize 

the extent of geographic and institutional diversity, 

equity, and inclusion among project participants.
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WEAVE Focus Areas

1. Partnerships amongst two or more 

institutes to build vibrant

and diverse ecosystems, through 

increased engagement with covered 

entities.

2. Partnerships amongst two or more 

Institutes to pilot new or

scale existing initiatives to promote the 

transition of institute-developed 

technologies into commercial use.

• Project examples listed in the 

NOFO in each focus area are just 

examples, not mandates.

• If proposing EWD projects, the 

project must serve one of these 

two focus areas.

• Non EWD projects that serve 

these focus areas are also in 

scope.

Public Service Funding Opportunity
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Funding Limitations

• Applications for product development and/or 

commercialization are not considered responsive to 

this NOFO and will not be considered for funding.

• Profit or fee is not an allowable cost under this 

program. Accordingly, a recipient or a subrecipient 

may not charge profits, fees, or other 

increments above cost to an award issued 

pursuant to this NOFO.

• Construction activities are not authorized under 

this program.
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Project Teaming 

Bring together key expertise across institutes, access to facilities, or 

specialized goods and services for a larger national or regional 

impact.

Strongly supports outreach to, recruitment of, and engagement 

with a diverse array of project participants.

Require Letters of commitment from all partners committing 

resources to the project.
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Evaluation – Section V. 

Project Rationale

Project Plan and Execution

Impact, Outcomes, and Dissemination

Project Management, Resources and Budget
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Helpful Tips

Budgets should include 

estimated travel costs for 

project leads to attend 

two in-person 

Manufacturing USA 

network meetings in the 

Washington, DC area.

Please note requirements 

in NOFO for data 

management plans.

Grants.gov helpline is 

available 24/7 EXCEPT on 

federal holidays. Ask for 

help before the 

application deadline!

Budgets for any subprojects proposed need 

to include enough detail 

to determine rationality.

Page limits are generous 

for your convenience.

Do not feel compelled to 

fill all pages.

Figures, graphs, images, 

and pictures should be of 

a size that is easily 

readable or viewable.
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• FAQs are posted and will be updated at 

https://www.nist.gov/oam/workforceeducation-and-vibrant-ecosystemsweave-faq

• Applicants must submit all questions in 

writing to manufacturingusa@nist.gov with 

“FY2023 WEAVE Questions” in the subject 

line.

Additional Information
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Questions and Answers
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Together We are Securing America’s Manufacturing Future

Get involved: ManufacturingUSA.com @MFGUSA MFGUSA

EPIXC