RRPC members are already benefitting from subsidized assistance for their manufacturing operations as part of the $1.7 Million Rochester Regional Photonics Jobs Accelerator program, part of the national Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge.
High Technology of Rochester is working with manufacturing companies in the optics, photonics and imaging cluster. The goal is to work with 12-15 companies per year for three years, based upon each individual company’s specific needs.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Business Assessments: Typically a 3-5 day project to provide a top-to-bottom evaluation of the business and make specific recommendations for how to grow.
- Innovation Engineering: Starting with a 100-day “Jumpstart” program, HTR will work with client company teams to lead them through the Innovation Engineering Management System to come up with new growth ideas, assess them, and implement them. Intense services (as much as ~$4000/month x 3 months = $12,000) are available for 8-10 companies annually.
- Continuous Improvement: Working to optimize manufacturing operations. This activity will include completion of a value stream map to document the entire production / operational flow of the business, followed by analysis for areas of improvement, and implementation of lean manufacturing and quality systems to improve profitability and free up capacity for new initiatives.
- Technology Acceleration: Focus on commercializing new technologies and products, by ‘infusing’ them into existing manufacturing businesses or by accelerating the growth of new, manufacturing-based startup companies. HTR will work with client companies to establish a two-way connection with local research institutions, as well as the National Innovation Marketplace, through which the client company’s technology needs can be identified, defined, and satisfied.
Basically, if you as a manufacturer have a project that will result in greater efficiency, competitiveness and jobs, you are likely eligible. You need to meet with HTR staff and identify the project. A specific project doesn’t come to mind? Call the HTR staff and they will come to your shop and help you identify one.
Funding is limited, so projects are on a first come, first served basis.
Contact any of these four HTR MEP representatives:
- Togo DeBellis – Director – Growth Services – togo.debellis@htr.org 585-327-7928
- Mike Sisson – Senior Business Consultant – michael.sisson@htr.org 585-327-7935
- John Steele – Senior Business Consultant – john.steele@htr.org 585-327-5906
- Ed Sullivan – Senior Business Consultant – ed.sullivan@htr.org 585-327-7933
About the NIST MEP
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) works with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. The nationwide network provides a variety of services, from innovation strategies to process improvements to green manufacturing. MEP also works with partners at the state and federal levels on programs that put manufacturers in position to develop new customers, expand into new markets and create new products.
MEP field staff has over 1,300 technical experts – located in every state – serving as trusted business advisors, focused on solving manufacturers’ challenges and identifying opportunities for growth. As a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, MEP offers its clients a wealth of unique and effective resources centered on five critical areas: technology acceleration, supplier development, sustainability, workforce and continuous improvement.
Innovation is at the core of what MEP does. Manufacturers that accelerate innovation are far more successful and realize greater opportunities to participate in the global economy. By placing innovations developed through research at federal laboratories, educational institutions and corporations directly in the hands of U.S. manufacturers, MEP serves an essential role sustaining and growing America’s manufacturing base. The program assists manufacturers to achieving new sales, leading to higher tax receipts and new sustainable jobs in the high paying advanced manufacturing sector.
As a public/private partnership, MEP delivers a high return on investment to taxpayers. For every one dollar of federal investment, the MEP generates nearly $20 in new sales growth and $20 in new client investment. This translates into $2.5 billion in new sales annually. For every $2,100 of federal investment, MEP creates or retains one manufacturing job.
America needs a robust manufacturing base and MEP is critical to the small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers who strengthen that base.