Are you a small or medium-sized manufacturer in upstate New York? Are you a National Grid electric and/or gas customer? Then you may qualify for a grant that could help pay for strategic marketing services, new product development and other top-line growth initiatives.
It’s part of National Grid’s Manufacturing Productivity Program (MPP), which provides matching grants for eligible growth projects. National Grid developed the MPP in partnership with the NY Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers from Western New York, Finger Lakes, Central New York, Mohawk Valley, North Country, and Capital Region, and administers this program with these MEPs.
How do you get started? This article provides a summary, but download the MPP Program Description for complete details.
What does the program pay for? National Grid’s MPP provides matching grants of up to $15,000 or 50% (whichever is less) for costs incurred by eligible applicants whose top management commits the time and resources to growth-targeted activities that will result in greater utilization of manufacturing capacity. Examples of these activities include market expansion and new customer or new product development.
What if you need other services, too? The MPP also provides matching grants of up to $40,000 or 60% (whichever is less) for the cost of projects that combine growth activities with productivity improvement activities such as lean manufacturing and QMS initiatives. Top management must commit the time and resources to projects that combine and coordinate these two types of activities.
What are the other grant requirements? See the MPP Program Description for complete details, but your company must have a Manufacturing NAICS code and provide a minimum of 25% of the total funding from its own capital. If you don’t have a Manufacturing NAICS code, here’s how to apply for one.
How do I start? There are several MEP centers in upstate New York that are authorized to provide growth and productivity services under this grant. Reach out to your local MEP Center.
FuzeHub, the statewide NY MEP center, is authorized to provide eligible growth services such as marketing/communication strategy and website development. Request a consultation to discuss a potential marketing project.