WORCESTER, MASS. — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $2.2 million in grants through MassTech Collaborative’s Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP) during the third annual Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up at Polar Park in Worcester. The MMAP grant program is managed by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech (CAM) and helps small to medium-sized manufacturers in Massachusetts scale their businesses to compete in the modern manufacturing economy. The Mash-Up brings companies, students, and state officials together annually to foster innovation and strengthen partnerships in the manufacturing sector.
“Massachusetts is home to a world-class manufacturing sector comprised of leading companies that are driving innovative solutions, streamlining production techniques, and building a pipeline of talented workers fueling this incredible ecosystem,” said Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is proud to invest in manufacturing through MassTech's MMAP grants, and we're excited to honor the success of our manufacturing sector during the annual Mash-Up celebration. Together, we can ensure the Massachusetts ecosystem has all that it needs to compete and win at a national and global scale.”
“The MMAP program provides manufacturers with the tools they need to scale, adopt new technologies, and meet customer demands world-wide,” said Executive Office of Economic Development Undersecretary of Economic Strategies Sarah Stanton. “In this era of rising global competition, it is essential that Massachusetts build a robust, diverse, and responsive manufacturing sector that supports economic opportunity in our state and the needs of our nation.”
The MMAP program invests in cutting-edge tools at each company, while also building partnerships with key organizations within the Massachusetts manufacturing ecosystem. The MMAP grantees include:
- Amramp Accessibility, Randolph - $250,000
- Boston Sight, Needham- $200,000
- Delta Electronics Mfg. Corp, Beverly - $200,000
- Den Mar Company, North Dartmouth - $180,000
- F.H. Peterson Machine, Stoughton - $250,000
- G&F Precision Molding, Sturbridge - $250,000
- Helfrich Brothers Boiler Works, Lawrence - $250,000
- J&J Machine Company, Marlborough - $185,087
- Proto XYZ Inc., New Bedford - $160,000
- Sinicon Plastics, Dalton - $137,500
- Wirefab Inc., Worcester - $225,000
For a description of each MMAP grant award recipient, click here. With today’s announcement, the next round of MMAP grants are now open; visit cam.masstech.org for more details.
“The MMAP grantees show that manufacturing is not relegated to one region of our state or to one type of industry, with production happening in nearly every corner of Massachusetts,” said Carolyn Kirk, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the parent organization for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the MMAP initiative. “As a statewide gathering, the Mash-Up also puts a spotlight on the vibrant ecosystem we have and the strong partnership between the private sector, academia, and government to drive product innovation and economic growth. The statewide focus, mixed with the emerging opportunities around new federal investments within this sector, make this an exciting time for manufacturing in Massachusetts.”
This year’s Mash-Up was attended by over 1500 people, the largest in the event’s history. The Mash-Up is a statewide manufacturing celebration that provides an opportunity for the Massachusetts manufacturing community to collaborate, build partnerships, exchange ideas, and celebrate innovation in priority, high-growth industries.
Activities included a STEM Challenge, which brought together 300 students from Innovation Pathways, a workforce development program that connects students with career opportunities in high demand industries. There was also a “speed networking session” for community college students participating in the state’s MassBridge manufacturing tech training program to ask questions of company representatives, and exhibits highlighting the projects reshaping industries such as additive manufacturing, robotics, and photonics.
“Our organization is proud to support, help scale, and celebrate the Massachusetts manufacturing ecosystem at this incredible event and we’re humbled by the growth over the last three years,” said Christine Nolan, Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech, the lead organizer for the Mash-Up. “In addition to the companies, students, and legislators in attendance, we want to give a big shout out to all of our sponsors and partners for contributing to the success of the Mash-Up. It's truly a team effort to pull together this event and to show-off the outstanding resources, talent, and products that Massachusetts has to offer.”
The Mash-Up also hosted the 8th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony organized by the co-chairs of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus to recognize manufacturing leaders for their contributions to the industry.
“Manufacturing provides high-paying jobs, contributes significantly to the state’s economy, and plays a vital role in driving technological advancement,” said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) House chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus. “In Massachusetts, our manufacturing sector is known for its focus on innovation and sustainability, with many companies investing in research and development to reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve energy efficiency. During the 8th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony, we were proud to celebrate 68 manufacturing awardees who serve as examples of what it means to Make it in Massachusetts and have helped drive manufacturing output at its highest level in history.”
“Today’s Manufacturing Mash-Up and MMAP grant announcement are testaments to the strength of manufacturing in Massachusetts. Manufacturing is a pillar of our state economy, and these grant awards will ensure this sector continues to thrive.” said State Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough), Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus. “Congratulations to all the grantees - I am confident that with the current leadership of MassTech, industry sponsors, manufacturers and the legislature, we are strongly positioned to innovate and meet the challenges of tomorrow."
The 2023 Mash-Up sponsors included Teradyne, 6K, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Synagex, Quabbin Wire & Cable, Tooling U-SME, the ARM Institute, GBMP, Equinor, Massachusetts Manufacturing Energy Collaborative, Skylitics, Hybrid CNC Parts, Spark Photonics, Mack Prototype, AB Corp, MRSI Myronic, MIT Lincoln Lab, Modern Mold and Tool, MassDevelopment, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and Associated Industries of Massachusetts.
Organizing partners for the event included the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech, MassMEP, FORGE, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MassHire, and MassRobotics.
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About the Mass. Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech
The mission of the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) is to foster the most complete, collaborative and agile manufacturing ecosystem, to enable business growth from innovation through production. The CAM is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency tasked with supporting business formation and growth in the Commonwealth’s tech and innovation sectors. CAM provides a path for manufacturing growth through a connected, accessible ecosystem that supports innovation, workforce development, and a business friendly environment. CAM manages programs including the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the MassBridge manufacturing training program, and the MassMakes portal. Learn more at https://cam.masstech.org/.