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Date: 3/2/2022
CHICOPEE – As a part of a $2.1 million grant program, four Western Massachusetts business are set to receive Mass. Manufacturing Accelerate Program grant funds to benefit technological innovations.
The four area recipients include $145,200 for Guardair Corporation in Chicopee, $95,838 for Boulevard Machine in Westfield, $250,000 for Advance Welding/Kielb Welding Enterprises in Springfield and $75,000 for Hi-Tech Mold & Tool in Pittsfield. Along with nine other chosen entities across the state, the 13 grant recipients mark the first manufacturers to receive funds from the new grant program, which was launched in June 2021.
Each grant will aid manufacturers as they look to advance their production cycle. For Guardair Corporation – a producer of air powered vacuums for industrial cleaning – the Mass. Manufacturing Accelerate Program funds the purchase of molds, fixtures and tooling critical to minimize component costs to produce a new product. The innovation creates a propriety vacuum part that will consume 70 percent less compressed air, according to their press release.
Director of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Center for Advancing Manufacturing (CAM) Christine Nolan described the origin of the grant program. CAM started by running the Mass.
Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) grant program over the last five years, but Nolan soon after realized the need for a program that specifically fitted small and mid-sized manufactures.
“What we’ve seen through research is that our small manufacturers are falling behind…so the need to help them is what generated this program. It’s to help our manufacturers capital equipment, help embrace new emerging technologies and allowing them within the key industries in the state,” said Nolan in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Nolan explained that the Mass. Manufacturing Accelerate Program works to drive efficiencies for manufacturers embracing new technologies. The innovations create scaling ramifications for the businesses, including upscaling to the work force to create better wages for workers. “It’s a win-win for both sides,” said Nolan.
The grant is already paying dividends for some manufacturers. Nolan shared that the Springfield manufacturer Advanced Wielding utilized their grant funds to extend wielding capabilities to electron beam wielding. The manufacturer’s expansion allowed for Advanced Wielding to welcome a Westfield company to acquire their services, according to Nolan.
The CAM director detailed the organization’s detailed selection process. Nolan shared that the organization gave priority to entities embracing collaboratives with nonprofits and contributors to equitable dynamics across the state.
“Each one of them play a role in driving continued success,” said Nolan.
Reflecting on the first year of the Mass. Manufacturing Accelerate Program, Nolan expressed satisfaction with the grant’s ability to reward different manufacturers throughout the state. She said CAM is now preparing to review the next round of applicants during the spring, with the program rewarding $10 million over five years.
“We’re expecting the next round to be sometime in the spring. We will be promoting it again across the state. I expect that we will be getting a lot of applicants and interest,” said Nolan.