E3 Federal Agency Support

Building upon the success of the Green Suppliers Network, EPA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) established the E3 suite of services.

Related EPA Programs

• Sustainable manufacturing is the creation of manufactured products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources.
• WaterSense is an EPA partnership program that seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices. Reducing water use by adopting and promoting water-efficient products, services, and practices helps communities to meet water demands, save energy, and reduce stress on our natural resources. Learn more about commercial water use and explore actions you can take to start saving water and energy now.
• ENERGY STAR offers a proven energy management strategy that helps manufacturers measure current energy performance, set goals, track savings, and reward improvements.
• EPA's Lean Manufacturing and the Environment and Lean and Energy toolkits describe a range of strategies for identifying process improvement opportunities and reducing resource use by employing lean methods.
• EPA's Safer Choice program helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform well and are safer for human health and the environment. In addition to finding safer cleaning and other products, the site offers information on safer chemical ingredients and programs that evaluate the health and environmental attributes of chemicals in products.
• EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership is a resource center for all companies looking to expand their work in the area of greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement and management. The Center features emerging best practices for organizations interested in reducing their supply chain emissions. Learn about How to Engage Suppliers for steps an organization can take to engage their supply chain in GHG management.
• SmartWay is an EPA program that reduces transportation-related emissions by creating incentives to improve supply chain fuel efficiency.
• EPA's Resources for Local Officials and Community Members is a one-stop directory for local government officials and community members seeking to address today's complex environmental challenges at the local level.

DOC houses the Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which operates a network of 59 centers across the country with expertise in business growth and lean manufacturing. NIST MEP helps manufacturers capitalize on the opportunities available in the dynamic markets of today and tomorrow—not just to survive, but to grow and thrive.

The NIST MEP manufacturing portal provides information on continuous improvement, supplier development, sustainability, technology acceleration, and workforce development. The Next Generation MEP (PDF) (12 pp, 1.74MB) deploys a framework that gives manufacturers the ability to address these five critical areas and establish a competitive advantage.

Related DOC and NIST MEP Programs

• Eureka! Winning Ways is a partnership between NIST MEP and Eureka! Ranch that provides manufacturers with a reliable system for more profitable growth. Part workshop, part leadership training program, and part accelerated project management, Eureka! Winning Ways teaches a scientific system for improving sales and marketing effectiveness, developing new customers and new markets, and creating more profitable products and services. Contact your local MEP center to learn more.
• The interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (NPO) is a partnership between the DOC, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Science Foundation that strives to enhance technology transfer in the manufacturing industry and help companies overcome technical obstacles to scaling up production of new technologies.

DOE's Better Plants Program initiative provides access to industrial energy assessments, tools and training, new technologies, and numerous other resources and promotes industrial energy efficiency as a profitable business model.

Related DOE Programs

• DOE's Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) works closely with industrial partners to identify and pursue technology research opportunities that promise broad benefits across the manufacturing sector. AMO also helps plants access the latest technologies and energy management practices.
• Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs), sponsored by DOE's Industrial Technologies Program, provides energy assessments in conjunction with many local E3 teams during the assessment process.

SBA provides tailored counseling to small businesses through a national network of Small Business Development Centers and assists companies in implementing the recommended improvements through SBA loan programs.

Related SBA Programs

• SBA Direct provides manufacturers with information and services based on their own unique business needs. SBA direct can help you find local resources, explore your programs and services, and achieve your business goals.
• SBA also sponsors the SCORE Association "Counselors to America's Small Business," a nonprofit comprising 11,500 volunteer business counselors throughout the U.S. and its territories. SCORE members are trained to serve as counselors, advisors, and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners. These services are offered at no fee, as a community service.

DOL actively supports the development of green jobs and green skills training through DOL's Employment and Training Administration, as well as workforce development grants and programs.

Related DOL Programs

• DOL's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) funds training programs that teach job skills and provide job placement services for adults who are at least 18 years of age. The types of training offered by a local training center can vary depending on the job opportunities in the community.
• DOL's ETA provides WorkforceGPS: Workforce Solutions, an e-learning, knowledge-sharing webspace that offers workforce professionals, employers, economic development professionals, and education professionals a dynamic network featuring innovative workforce solutions.
• Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), WorkforceGPS is an interactive online communication and learning technical assistance (TA) platform that was designed to communicate with and build the capacity of the public workforce investment system to develop and implement innovative approaches to workforce and economic development in the 21st Century economy. This website, which offers resources and peer-to-peer connection, supplements other TA provided by ETA's national and regional staff to help the public workforce system, education professionals, and business.

Through its Rural Development Program, USDA promotes economic development by supporting financial and technical assistance to rural businesses, agriculture producers, and cooperatives.