Manufacturing companies in Connecticut have access to an impressive array of free resources designed to bolster their growth and improve operational efficiency. Connecticut’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF) provides grants and funding opportunities aimed specifically at supporting growth.

Radcliff Wire recently worked with two organizations, the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) and UCONN’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) Program, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

CCAT facilitates access to MIF funding opportunities and grant programs to help Connecticut manufacturers procure the equipment they need to grow and remain competitive. Working with CCAT helped us obtain funding to purchase new machines that have supplemented our capabilities and increased our capacity and throughput. For example, we used one grant toward the purchase of a new Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM).

If you haven’t heard of the IAC, it’s a free resource that assesses manufacturers’ facilities to evaluate their energy use, waste management, and productivity practices. It then shares the results with the business owner via highly comprehensive assessments that include recommendations for improvement, the projected cost of the improvements, the expected savings the improvements will generate, and the length of time it should take for the improvements to pay for themselves and begin generating a positive financial return.

Like any program, it’s only useful if manufacturers commit to doing their part. In the spirit of continuous improvement, we went all in, determined to make Radcliff Wire’s facility as energy efficient and sustainable as possible.

The assessment revealed that our facility’s HVAC system needed to be updated. Because IAC performed the evaluation, we were able to apply for funding through Energywerx, which manages funding through the Department of Energy.

As a result, we have qualified for a substantial grant to replace our HVAC system. In addition, we’ll receive an incentive from the utility company to replace our old system with a more energy efficient one. By identifying inefficiencies and recommending tailored solutions, the IAC helps businesses attain significant cost savings while reducing their carbon footprint.

Every year, Connecticut manufacturers leave a staggering amount of funding unclaimed, often due to a lack of awareness of the available programs. If your company is one of them, you may be missing out on opportunities to expand your manufacturing capabilities and upgrade your facilities. We encourage you to explore these programs and join us in growing our state’s manufacturing industry.