FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Massachusetts announced multiple initiatives to support funding and workforce development during the annual Manufacturing Mash-Up at Gillette Stadium last week.
The organizers awarded nearly $10.5 million in Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative grants to 17 companies. The grants are intended to help companies move toward commercialization of their products.
The sixth annual event, hosted by the state’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing, drew thousands of attendees at all stages of their careers. This included state officials, industry professionals, more than 400 students, and of course Pat Patriot and a Boston Dynamics robotic dog. CAM is a division of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, or MassTech, a quasi-public state agency.
Lily Fitzgerald, CAM’s director, noted how the majority of manufacturers are small businesses and called out the state’s deep roots in helping innovate solutions for national issues.
“These small businesses are the bedrock of American production and power critical supply chains around the world. What we see every day in our site visits, in our meetings, in our convenings, is that small teams are formidable, they are adaptive and they are determined,” said Fitzgerald.
The event also included an artificial intelligence pitch contest, as well as recognition awards handed out by the state legislature’s manufacturing caucus with support from MassMEP.
MassMEP itself recently received nearly $3 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to help manufacturers increase adoption of AI and automation.
According to state Rep. Jeff Roy, Massachusetts has an estimated 6,000 manufacturing businesses that employ more than 227,000 people. This number has dropped significantly in recent decades, according to Federal Reserve data, as is the case nationally.
While there’s been ample discussion about challenges finding skilled labor for the remaining workforce needs, the event’s keynote speaker encouraged attendees to keep an open mind.
Drew Crowe, founder of New American Manufacturing Renaissance, talked about how he previously worked in a machine shop after time in the criminal justice system. He cited famous examples of how Massachusetts industry grew by taking chances on untraditional manufacturers such as Paul Revere, farmworkers and other groups.
“This Commonwealth didn't become a manufacturing powerhouse by hiring ‘the right people.’ They didn't wait for the culture fit. They didn't wait for the experience to show up and knock on their door. They went out and found it,” said Crowe. “They weren't saying we're only going to hire experienced people, because there weren't any.”
Massachusetts expands manufacturing programs
Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley announced multiple initiatives to bolster manufacturing.
He touted the recent expansion of the state’s Pathmaker workforce training program, originally designed for life sciences, to include manufacturing and other sectors. The program funds training and workforce development opportunities, in connection with employers, for key skill sets.
“Talent is one of the biggest challenges. Not because Massachusetts doesn't have amazing talent, because finding that talent is really hard, and finding it in the right locations is really hard,” said Paley. “So we're going to start standing up Pathmaker programs around the state for manufacturing to make sure that those advanced manufacturing skills that propel our manufacturers forward are getting to the people ... that we need to grow those sectors.”
Paley also announced the state would soon expand its Business Builds capital grant program to support the Strategic Hub for Innovation, Exchange and Leadership in Defense, or SHIELD, initiative.
According to Paley, defense is a nearly $50 billion industry in Massachusetts. Gov. Maura Healey launched the SHIELD Initiative last year, alongside funding for related microelectronics and chips manufacturing. The initiative directed state agencies to find ways to increase support for the defense sector and also created a working group to provide advice.
Expanding the Business Builds program to support SHIELD is meant to incentivize capital investments via matching grants. This will follow a model employed in the climate tech and life sciences sectors. MassTech is finalizing a request for proposals to launch this program and will have more details to share soon, according to a spokesperson for the state’s Office of Economic Development.
Kraft’s view on what makes Massachusetts manufacturing unique
The event also featured a discussion between Paley and Kraft Group President Jonathan Kraft, whose family owns Gillette Stadium as well as multiple manufacturing companies.
Kraft Group portfolio companies manufacture a range of paper and packaging products across dozens of U.S. states and other countries. Kraft estimated that in Massachusetts these operations generate $600 million in annual revenue and employ 1,400 people.
He praised the state’s workforce as uniquely educated, citing the company’s recruiting relationships with high schools, community colleges and certain demographics of the workforce. Kraft also talked up the strength of Boston’s Conley Terminal for maritime shipping as a plus, while noting the business landscape can be more challenging than in other states.
“We believe very much in the future of Massachusetts and manufacturing,” he said, citing an estimated $480 million worth of investments by the Kraft Group over the past decade. “It’s little more complicated to build here and to get things done. But there are so many advantages to being in Massachusetts that they overcompensate for it.”
Kraft cited permitting and energy affordability as particular challenges. At the same time, he said the state’s climate and technology sectors give local manufacturers an advantage because they may be able to access energy efficiency technology or new forms of energy earlier.
“The good news is I think Massachusetts has created an innovation community,” said Kraft. “These types of things aren't happening in other parts of the country.”
