New grant cycle to help fund Connecticut’s manufacturing future

Connecticut manufacturers seeking to explore new technologies and train their staff to use them can make use of the Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP) which opened its latest round of grant applications on Dec. 1.

The program, which is administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), provides up to $100,000 across multiple applications in matching funding for manufacturing businesses that seek to acquire new equipment alongside the expertise to make full use of the latest technology. First time applicants can receive matching funds at a ratio of 2:1 for a proposed project, while repeat applicants will need to have more capital ready to go at a ratio of 3:1.

The funding is provided by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Manufacturing Innovation Fund.

“I happen to have the privilege of administering seven of the nine programs at the CCAT,” said Paul Striebe, the organization’s program manager. “Our programs are all focused on the manufacturing supply chain in Connecticut, so eligible applicants for these funding programs are small to mid-sized manufacturing companies, generally from three to 300 employees.”

Striebe noted there are a range of other programs focusing on larger and smaller businesses, and manufacturers should be aware that there are substantial sums of grant money available.

“In all, there’s well over $200,000 available to every manufacturer in the state at the moment,” Striebe said. He encouraged manufacturers of all sizes to explore what options are available to them, as while the MVP is focused on providing new machines and productivity tools, it is not the only opportunity he hopes manufacturers will explore.

“There are other programs as well that are more focused on cybersecurity assessments, industry 4.0 technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence,” he added. “And then on the workforce side we have programs that provide wage subsidies under the apprenticeship funding program, where we will help subsidize some of the cost of manufacturers onboarding and having active apprentices in house.”

The grants are largely matching programs which require manufacturers to have some “skin in the game.”

Ron Angelo, the president and CEO of CCAT and a former DECD deputy commissioner, noted the availability of the funding represented significant public investment and praised the state for committing to support the manufacturing ecosystem, something he said is necessary in the current economy.

“These companies, they’re hearing from their customers that they need to advance technology wise. They need to advance their workforce capabilities,” Angelo said. “CCAT is an applied technology center, and we’re going into our 20th year, and I think we’ve developed what I consider to be the best model in the country to deliver this funding. And what this funding does, is it ‘de-risks.’”

Angelo emphasized that CCAT works with companies to ensure the grants are used effectively, making sure that it is not used solely to acquire new equipment but also to integrate it into a manufacturer’s workflow and ensure staff are properly trained in its use. CCAT also provides demonstrations of the technology and opportunities to speak with technical experts so that manufacturers can make well-informed decisions about the role the technology can play in their business.

Angelo highlighted the Additive Manufacturing Adoption Program, which will begin accepting applications on Jan 1, 2024. While the ability to use 3D printing technology or similar techniques using metals or ceramics can be transformative, only six $100,000 grants are available. He added that companies may want to consider exploring how the current MVP program can provide a way for them to seek upgrades that might be less flashy but are potentially more impactful ahead of the technology’s wider adoption.

“We always try to marry technology with training, you can’t just come in and say, ‘I want to get an additive manufacturing tool,” Angelo said. “Yeah, we all think we do, but do you have an idea about what you’re thinking to do with it? We de-risk through technology awareness, and we de-risk financially as well. When you put those two together it’s an incredibly powerful tool.”

Further information about individual grant programs for manufacturers can be found online at https://grants.ccat.us/s/funding-programs.