Last week Washington State’s Department of Commerce announced a new grant program designed to increase the number of manufacturing and research and development jobs in Washington State. Two million dollars in grants will be awarded to eligible manufacturing and research and development businesses as well as innovation clusters. The Center of Excellence assists both PNAA and AFA in their cluster work.
In addition to regional cluster acceleration strategies, grants will go to businesses seeking to innovate and expand across the state. Awards will range between $200,000 and $400,000, with up to 10 grants awarded.
Do you represent a business interested in applying for grant funding? The Center of Excellence is here to help. With our strong background and deep knowledge of grant writing and funding, we would be pleased to help businesses apply for this opportunity. Contact us.
Funding will be provided for the following types of projects:
- Research and development projects, including design and testing of new technologies that align with the state’s goal of building a resilient, innovative, and equitable manufacturing and research and development base of employment
- Pilot or demonstration manufacturing projects coordinated with organized industry cluster initiatives
- Strategic assistance related to analysis of existing and potential customer bases and market demands, including analysis of capabilities of business’s employees to expand their skillsets
- Strategic assistance related to supply chain management and resilience
- Projects intended to increase manufacturing jobs or research and development jobs regionally within the next five years
- Workforce development initiatives