State Manufacturing Leadership Program

The State Manufacturing Leadership Program (SMLP), administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is designed to accelerate the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing (HPC) by small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMMs). This initiative seeks to catalyze American innovation and competitiveness by equipping manufacturers with tools that enhance energy productivity, operational efficiency, and global leadership in manufacturing. The primary goal of SMLP is to provide funding to state entities, state-funded universities, and state-funded community or technical colleges to support SMMs through workforce development, technical assistance, and direct technology implementation. The program encourages development or expansion of programs that enable SMMs to integrate smart manufacturing technologies, leverage HPC resources, and access technical expertise. These technologies include advanced analytics, AI, modeling, and automation that simulate, monitor, and optimize manufacturing operations and energy use. Funding under this program is intended to support a wide array of activities including training and workforce development programs, facility and process assessments, roadmapping for smart technology integration, and financial or technical assistance for implementation. Projects must also foster outreach efforts to raise awareness among SMMs about the benefits of smart manufacturing, and should contribute to building a robust support ecosystem in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners. Eligibility for this program is strictly limited to state entities, state-funded universities, and state-funded community or technical colleges. All prime and subrecipients must be domestic entities in good federal standing. Applicants must provide a minimum 23.1% cost share, derived from non-federal sources, which aligns with federal statutory requirements. The maximum award size is $2 million, and cost sharing for such a project would require at least $600,781 in non-federal contributions. Applications will be evaluated based on technical merit, engagement strategy, potential impact, budget and workplan quality, and the qualifications of the project team. The review process also emphasizes leveraging existing partnerships and resources to create a sustainable and effective support structure for SMMs. While the application window opened on January 15, 2025, the deadline remains to be determined, pending updates based on recent Executive Orders. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor ENERGYWERX communications for updated timelines. Webinars and office hours are available to assist with application preparation. The submission process includes uploading completed application materials via a designated portal, with sufficient lead time provided once the final deadline is announced. For additional information, applicants may contact the program team at [email protected].

Emphasize clear alignment to outreach, workforce development, and implementation; strong engagement strategy; impact metrics such as number of SMMs supported and degrees/certifications awarded.