Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (RIME) Act of 2021
Bill: S.2977 | Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon (D-RI)
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (RIME) Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish a pilot grant program to help eligible manufacturers retain retiring employees for up to 90 days for the purpose of transferring job-specific skills and training to other employees.

To allow State manufacturing extension partnerships to award grants to 
 small- and medium-sized manufacturers for the purpose of training new 
           workers to replace departing experienced workers.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Retain Innovation and Manufacturing 
Excellence (RIME) Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)).
            (2) Eligible manufacturers.--The term ``eligible 
        manufacturer'' means a manufacturer that--
                    (A) is a small business concern, as that term is 
                defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
                U.S.C. 632); and
                    (B) has an existing relationship with a Center.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a pilot 
program to award National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) grants to help ensure an 
adequately trained manufacturing workforce. Under the program, eligible 
Centers may award MEP grants to eligible manufacturers to retain 
retiring employees for up to 90 days for the purpose of transferring 
job-specific skills and training to existing or new employees. The 
length of each grant shall be determined through negotiations between 
the Center and the eligible manufacturer.
    (b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive funding and 
award grants under the program, a Center must meet the following 
criteria:
            (1) A Center must be able to document evidence of an aging 
        workforce within manufacturing firms that are seeking 
        assistance with retaining skills and knowledge of their 
        operations.
            (2) A Center shall establish a transparent application 
        process for eligible manufacturing firms that may include one 
        or more of the following preferences:
                    (A) A preference for manufacturers that employ 
                veterans discharged or released under honorable 
                conditions.
                    (B) A preference for manufacturing firms from 
                industry sectors that are most in need of assistance as 
                determined by the local MEP.
                    (C) A preference for manufacturing firms with a 
                facility in the State or region for an extended period 
                of time before the application is submitted (as 
                determined by the Center).
                    (D) A preference for manufacturing firms that have 
                an existing relationship with the local MEP.
            (3) A Center must be able to demonstrate their ability to 
        assess, advise, and train manufacturers on how to transfer the 
        job-specific skills and training through the implementation of 
        a training structure and train-the-trainer program focused on 
        knowledge capture and transfer.
    (c) Training.--In awarding grants pursuant to this section, 
consideration shall be given to the use of funds by Centers to assist 
manufacturers that are experiencing high employee turnover due to their 
inability to transfer required job-specific skills and training to new 
employees with the implementation of training structures and train-the-
trainer programs.
    (d) Cost Sharing.--To be eligible for a grant under the pilot 
program under this section, a Center shall demonstrate that 50 percent 
of the amount of the funds awarded are matched from non-Federal 
sources. Those sources may include State and local agencies engaged in 
workforce development, foundations engaged in workforce development, or 
an in-kind contribution from an employer that would stand to directly 
benefit from the grant received by the Center.
    (e) Number and Size of Awards.--
            (1) Number.--The Secretary may award up to 25 grants to 
        Centers under the pilot program.
            (2) Size.--Each award under the program shall be for not 
        less than $50,000 and not more than $500,000.
    (f) Administrative Expenses.--A Center receiving a grant under the 
pilot program may use up to 5 percent of the amount of the grant for 
the administration of expenses incurred by the Center in distributing 
grants to eligible manufacturers under the pilot program.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
$10,000,000 to carry out the pilot program.
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