FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2024
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John Mackowiak
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Grant funding from U.S. Small Business Administration will support FuzeHub’s work to expand access to innovation resources statewide with special focus on Central New York, Southern Tier, North Country
ALBANY, N.Y. – FuzeHub, a leading nonprofit dedicated to helping New York State manufacturing and technology companies increase competitiveness and growth, is launching a major effort to expand access to crucial innovation resources for entrepreneurs in underserved communities, backed by about $375,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
FuzeHub has secured two significant grants — $322,000 for its Equity in Manufacturing Innovation (EIM) program and $50,000 through the SBA’s 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC). These initiatives will enable FuzeHub to ramp up its capabilities in engaging and supporting underserved entrepreneurs in the manufacturing and technology sectors across multiple regions of New York State.
“This federal investment will allow us to expand our reach and impact. FuzeHub has assisted thousands of manufacturing and tech firms over the 10 years since we first launched, and now we’ll have added backing to ensure that every manufacturer knows how to access New York State’s robust innovation resources,” said Elena Garuc, FuzeHub Executive Director. “We will keep building our capacity to provide intensive, wrap-around support to innovators who have historically faced barriers to accessing these vital resources. We’re grateful to Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for helping us secure the funding necessary to fuel this important work.”
The EIM program will deliver tailored entrepreneurial training and services to 30 innovators across the Central New York, Southern Tier, and North Country regions. Complementing this, the GAFC award will support the development of a Pre-Accelerator program and new collaborations with 20-30 organizations to address the needs of entrepreneurs with advanced manufacturing research and development projects.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer were instrumental in securing federal funding for FuzeHub’s expanded efforts to engage and support underserved entrepreneurs across New York State.
“New York’s manufacturing sector is vital to our state’s economy and shared prosperity, but far too often, entrepreneurs in underserved communities struggle to access the support they need to participate in the innovation economy,” Senator Gillibrand said. “FuzeHub is a statewide leader in catalyzing economic development and supporting entrepreneurs as they seek to grow their manufacturing businesses. I am proud to have secured this federal investment to support FuzeHub’s Equity in Manufacturing Innovation program to better support underserved entrepreneurs across New York.”
“I was proud to secure this $322,000 in federal funding for FuzeHub because investing in our entrepreneurs means supporting new jobs, reviving our Main Streets, and strengthening American competitiveness. With this support from the federal government, FuzeHub will help entrepreneurs from underserved communities across New York turn their visions into realities and boost New York’s manufacturing sector,” said Senator Schumer. “This is a win-win. It’s a win for New York’s economy as we support business growth and a win for bringing manufacturing back to America to onshore our supply chains here at home. Together, we are increasing American competitiveness and growth and re-establishing New York as a manufacturing leader for the United States and the world.”
FuzeHub, which serves as the statewide center for the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP), will spearhead these initiatives in partnership with multiple regional NY MEP centers, including the Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology (AMT) in the Southern Tier, CITEC Business Solutions in the North Country, and TDO in Central New York. Additionally, Rochester-based NextCorps will leverage its successful manufacturing accelerator model to develop and deliver tailored training programs for each region.
Jim D’Agostino, CEO & MEP Center Director, TDO, said, “This initiative is another game-changer for Central New York’s manufacturing landscape. By focusing on underserved entrepreneurs, we’re tapping into a wealth of innovation potential that is too often overlooked. We’re grateful to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their support in securing this funding, which will allow us to provide critical resources and mentorship to more manufacturers in our communities.”
Steven Lockwood, Executive Director, CITEC Business Solutions, said, “The North Country’s entrepreneurial spirit is strong, but access to resources has often been a challenge, especially for underserved rural communities that don’t have the density of resources and advisors typical of more urban areas. This FuzeHub-led, SBA-funded program will bridge that gap, providing our innovators with the tools they need to turn their ideas into successful manufacturing ventures. We thank our federal representatives for recognizing the importance of investing in diverse entrepreneurial talent across all regions of our state.”
Carol Miller, Executive Director, Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology, said, “This funding is a significant boost for the Southern Tier’s manufacturing ecosystem. It will allow us to nurture a more diverse group of entrepreneurs, bringing fresh perspectives and innovations to our region’s industrial base. We’re thankful for the support of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer in championing this initiative, which will undoubtedly contribute to job creation and economic growth in our communities.”
James Senall, President, NextCorps, said, “This partnership will allow us to extend our reach and make a meaningful impact in communities that have historically been underrepresented in the innovation economy. We’re grateful for the federal support that makes this collaboration possible, and we’re committed to delivering a program that will foster the next generation of diverse manufacturing leaders.”
This expanded effort to serve manufacturing and tech firms in underserved communities is expected to boost job creation, sales growth, and investment in the targeted regions, contributing significantly to the revitalization of local manufacturing and the broader New York State economy.
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 Partnership (MEP) centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York MEP center, supported by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation.
