Program and Application Information
Program Purpose
The Manufacturing Innovation Voucher Program (MVP) provides financial assistance to Connecticut Manufacturers to help them undertake innovative projects that will significantly improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.
Program Highlights
- The program is being administered on a first-come first-served basis.
- Financial assistance will be provided in the form of a matching grant.
- Grant amounts from $6,250 to a maximum of $100,000 will be awarded.
- New applicants will be required to provide a 2:1 match.
- Repeat applicants will be required to provide a 3:1 match.
- The maximum lifetime amount awarded to any one company under this program is $100K.
- A third-party vendor or service provider must be used to execute the proposed project.
- Proposed funding uses should be in accordance with the program's goal of making Connecticut manufacturers more efficient, productive, profitable, and generally more competitive in nature.
- Only projects that have not been committed to and don't start until after submission of your application will be considered for funding.
- Appropriate due diligence will be performed which may include a site visit to your manufacturing facility.
- Companies that receive a grant under this program will be required to complete an impact report 6 months following their award date.
Program Eligibility
- Must be a Manufacturer or Allied Service Provider (Allied Service Providers only include companies that physically interact with a manufactured good to alter the product - for example industrial Heat Treaters and industrial Platers).
- Be located in Connecticut or relocating to Connecticut.
- The company’s manufacturing facility must be operating in an appropriately zoned commercial area.
- Company must not have received an MVP grant after June 30, 2018.
- Must be in Good Standing with both the CT Department of Revenue Services and CT Department of Labor at time of application submission.
- Must not have been previously awarded a total of $100k from the program.
- Be in good standing with DRS and DOL and other relevant state or local agencies
- Be registered with the CT Secretary of State for at least 3 years and must be generating revenue.
- Have at least 3 full-time employees and no more than 100.
- At least 51% of an applicant’s revenue must be generated from the sale of goods they manufacture or from allied services provided to manufacturers.
- Be considering a project with a minimum value of $25,000 that is worthy of funding
Funding Uses
The Program will consider projects that are expected to achieve substantial and measurable improvements to the company’s overall profitability and competitiveness. Only projects that commence after submission of your application will be considered for funding.
Uses of this funding include, but are not limited to the following:
- Assistance with new machinery acquisition
- Technical experts in universities, educational institutions, nonprofits, or other organizations to solve engineering, marketing and other challenges, i.e. workforce development, supply chain network development, technology insertion, research and development
- Market analysis
- Business development
- Financial transition and market growth planning
- Testing or research to support proof of principle
- Prototype development
- Process Improvements
- Commercialization and innovation services
- Specialized Equipment for automation
- Tooling development and manufacture
- Quality System Upgrades
- Other such projects that the Advisory Board and/or DECD deems eligible.
Ineligible Funding Uses
While the MVP Program will consider all proposed funding uses that align with its goals, it has specifically identified the following activities as ineligible uses of the funds:
- Debt restructuring
- Ongoing operational costs/Working Capital
- Loan payments
- Costs related to the sale of disposal of business assets.
- Lobbying
- Workforce training
- Motor Vehicles Requiring DMV Registration
- Real Estate Acquisition
- Construction related activities
- Acquisition of an entire business or more than 50% of the assets of another business
Application Submission & Process Considerations
- Applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis.
- Only fully completed applications with the required attachments will be considered for funding.
- A recent project quote or proposal from a vendor or service provider MUST accompany your application.
- A completed project budget form must be submitted with your application.
- Evidence of the applicant's financial ability to meet the required funding match and complete the project must be provided (i.e. bank statement, credit line availability, etc).
- Letters of Good Standing from the CT Department of Revenue Service and the CT Department of Labor must accompany your application submission.
- Companies not in "good standing" with the Department of Revenue Services or Department of Labor are not eligible to apply.
- You must not commit to the proposed project until your MVP application has been submitted.
- The "Save Draft Application" button on the application form allows you to save a partially completed application and return at a later date and time to complete and submit your funding request.
- Applications must be submitted online using the program's online form.
Monitoring and Compliance
- We will contact you approximately 6 months after your award date to confirm project execution and impacts.
- We will ask you to complete and submit a one-page impact report.
- We will ask you to complete a one-page Statement of Program Cost.
- We will ask you to provide proof of payment information for the approved project.
- There will be a claw back of grant funds if you have not implemented the project scope as agreed in the contract.
Administrative Process
Click here to download the CTMVP Administrative Process flowchart.
