FuzeHub, the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) center, has opened a new grant fund as part of its Build4Scale NY initiative, a program that helps innovators and manufacturers take new products to market and more rapidly expand their operations in New York State. The Build4Scale NY fund will provide startups and product innovators with grants of up to $10,000 to launch or accelerate manufacturing projects.
“Access to funding tends to be a significant barrier for a lot of startups and small manufacturers,” said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. “The Build4Scale NY fund will help alleviate the financial obstacles they encounter when trying to scale a new product. It will award grants to support great ideas and inventions that will generate new manufacturing activity and help create jobs in New York State.”
The fund is a critical element of the overall Build4Scale NY program, which provides training, one-on-one guidance and matchmaking to state resources and contract manufacturers. It provides companies with individualized support to address specific needs, solve unique challenges and spark growth.
Build4Scale NY is a membership program that is open to startups, early-stage developers of physical products and small to medium-sized manufacturers across New York State. Funding will be awarded to member companies that are pursuing projects aligned with a set of requirements, which include:
- Company readiness: The company’s hardware product is, or nearly is, manufacturing-ready.
- Project fit: The project will help the product get to market and/or scale more quickly.
- Resources aligned: The company has engaged partners and resources to support the project.
- New York manufacturing: The company is based in New York or plans to manufacture in the state.
To apply, companies should visit fuzehub.com/build4scale-ny/membership.
FuzeHub will award Build4Scale NY grants of varying values, up to $10,000. A total of $140,000 in grant funding is available.
Build4Scale workshops have been scheduled in communities across the state. Already, FuzeHub has booked workshop dates in Brooklyn (March 20), Stony Brook (April 8), Syracuse (April 29) and Buffalo (May 14).
Build4Scale is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy, which FuzeHub has applied to its program with DOE’s permission. For more information about Build4Scale NY membership, training, resources and grant funding, visit fuzehub.com/build4scale-ny.
About FuzeHub
FuzeHub is a nonprofit organization that connects New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth. Through its custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, FuzeHub helps companies navigate New York’s robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partners centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) center, supported by NYSTAR, Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation. For more information on FuzeHub, visit www.fuzehub.com.
About the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership
The New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) is a network of 11 organizations that provide growth and innovation services to small and mid-sized manufacturers in every corner of the state to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. For more information on NY MEP, visit newyorkmep.org.