Feds may end Ohio manufacturing program after audit cites $20.9 million in misspending
- A federal audit found that Ohio mismanaged $20.9 million received through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership over a decade.
- The audit cited unauthorized spending and self-dealing by board members of local affiliates.
- The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology may consider terminating Ohio's funding permanently based on the audit's recommendations.
- Several local affiliates have announced plans to close due to the loss of funding after the federal government paused financial assistance.
- MAGNET, one of the affiliates, disputed the audit's findings, claiming inaccuracies that misrepresent their program.
A longstanding, federally funded Ohio manufacturing program that provides job training and technology support to companies could be shut down for good if federal officials follow recommendations in a new audit. The audit released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General faulted Ohio for poor oversight of $20.9 million it received over a decade through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It identified waste and abuse, including unauthorized spending and self-dealing by board members of local affiliates that received the federal money.
The audit recommends that the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology consider terminating Ohio’s funding permanently and try to recoup the money. Prior to the audit's findings, the federal government had already paused funding for the program, which led to complaints from elected officials who support the affiliates as vital training centers. Several affiliates announced plans to close as a result of losing funding.
MAGNET, one of the local affiliates, disputed the audit's findings, stating that it did not have the opportunity to review the report before its release and found inaccuracies that create a false picture of their operations. The Ohio Department of Development, which administers the federal funds, stated that it has zero tolerance for fraud, waste, and abuse and is cooperating with the audit process.
联邦可能终止俄亥俄州制造项目，审计指出2090万美元的误支出
一个长期由联邦资助的俄亥俄州制造项目，提供就业培训和技术支持，如果联邦官员遵循新审计的建议，可能会被永久关闭。美国商务部监察长办公室发布的审计指出，俄亥俄州在十年内对通过制造扩展伙伴关系获得的2090万美元资金监管不善。审计发现了浪费和滥用，包括未经授权的支出和地方附属机构董事会成员的自我交易。
审计建议美国国家标准与技术研究院考虑永久终止俄亥俄州的资金，并尝试追回资金。在审计结果公布之前，联邦政府已暂停该项目的资金，这引发了支持这些附属机构作为重要培训中心的民选官员的投诉。由于失去资金，几家附属机构宣布计划关闭。
MAGNET作为其中一个地方附属机构，对审计结果表示异议，称其在报告发布前没有机会进行审查，并发现了不准确之处，误导了对其运营的看法。负责管理联邦资金的俄亥俄州发展部表示，对欺诈、浪费和滥用行为零容忍，并正在配合审计过程。