CONNECTIONS | September 2022 | |
From the Director | Celebrating Success | |
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In this month’s newsletter you will see we have a lot to celebrate. I want to congratulate our team for receiving the US Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency Century Award during MEDWeek 2022. The award recognized the performance of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and our clients' success. Our team traveled to Washington, DC for MEDWeek and the MBDA National Training Conference where we celebrated the appointment of the new Under Secretary of Commerce, Don Cravins and met with our colleagues from around the country.
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During September we hosted the newly appointed and first Chief Operating Officer of MBDA, Jerimiah “JJ” Jones. Jerimiah spent a day with our team learning about our program, taking a tour of one of our client’s facilities and participating in a roundtable discussion with clients and program partners.
We are also celebrating our clients who have been recognized by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland as Champions of Manufacturing. On November 17, we will join them at RMI's 2022 Maryland Manufacturing Celebration. Citywide Youth Development, Fabpro Technologies, Fashion Spa House, Food Opportunity, MartA Ali Studios, NuTech, Prime Manufacturing Technologies, Semforex, Sonavi Labs, Congratulations!.. Our Center and the MiHUB Cooperative are also being recognized. I encourage you to join us.
I also want to congratulate my colleague Anthony Robinson, Esq. Many of you work with Anthony in his role as our lead business consultant. You may not be aware of Anthony’s historic contribution to equity and inclusion for minority businesses in America. Anthony was Executive Director of the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc (MBELDEF), a public interest nonprofit organization founded in 1980 by former Maryland Congressman Parren J. Mitchell. For many years MBELDEF was the leading public interest law firm representing the interests of the minority business community. On October 12 Anthony will receive the Vanguard Award from the Capital Region Minority Supplier Diversity Council. You can join us in celebrating Anthony and several other inductees in the CRMSDC hall of fame. (More information is available here).
As we celebrate our individual and collective success, we understand our continued responsibility to do more and to be better. "For whom much is given much is required."
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N. Scott Phillips
Director
Mid-Atlantic Region MBDA
Advanced Manufacturing Center - Baltimore
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photo credit to J.J. McQueen
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VIDEO: MED WEEK 2022 MBDA AMC RECAP | |
Video: MiHUB Monday Webinar Series: Manufacturing Product Innovation | |
MiHUB CoOp is accepting applications for membership. Contact Mark Lawrence for information.
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The MiHUB Cooperative is a member owned and operated entity committed to supporting the shared growth and development of minority manufactures and their communities. Our facility is located in Baltimore at 1100 Wicomico Street. We are co-located with our strategic partner Harbor Design. We provide shared services to include product design, marketing, financing, and administrative support. The self-sustaining co-op leverages member and stakeholder investments to develop systems and infrastructure to support core operations. | |
The Manufacturing Innovation Hub Cooperative (MiHUB) is located in Baltimore but serves minority manufacturers worldwide. We exist to connect the ecosystem between minority manufacturers and innovation to ensure that the manufacturing industry is diverse to continue to accelerate, grow, and thrive.
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Tickets are limited to reserve a seat for the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland’s 2022 Maryland Manufacturing Celebration, to be held at Martin’s West, November 17, 2022, from 4:30 to 8:30. The Mid-Atlantic Region Minority Business Development Agency Advanced Manufacturing Center is a program partner for this long awaited event recognizing the 2022 RMI Champions of Maryland Manufacturing; the State’s many manufacturers and leaders of business, government, education and the community who are part of Maryland’s manufacturing community; and RMI’s President, Dr. Mike Galiazzo, as the 2022 Grand Champion for his leadership over RMI’s 32-year history.
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Maryland Manufacturing 4.0
The Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 grant program provides grants to small and mid-sized Maryland manufacturers to invest in Industry 4.0-related technologies, machinery and robotics, and digital business practices in order to remain competitive and drive growth. This pilot program is funded by $1 million in the state's fiscal year 2023 budget.
BENEFITS
Companies that invest in Industry 4.0 technologies can benefit from increased productivity and sales, cost savings, retention of employees, and more. Awarded grants will cover 50 percent of project costs, with a minimum grant of $15,000 and a maximum grant of $50,000. Projects must clearly demonstrate a tie to Industry 4.0, and a long term strategy for Industry 4.0 adoption.
Examples of qualified projects and investments include:
- Big Data & Analytics – investing in systems that allow manufacturers to better analyze the data collected within their operation, turning data into actionable insights that drive better decision-making
- Robots and autonomous equipment to help automate workflow (replacement of existing equipment would not be qualified)
- Implementation of Industrial Internet of Things technologies such as shop floor data sensors, smart warehouse, or new quality control systems
- Adoption of additive manufacturing
- Simulation/Digital Twins to enable predictive maintenance, test ideas for operational changes, etc.
- Systems integration projects – either vertically sharing data within the organization to improve efficiencies, or horizontally across supply chains
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
- Employee training and /or consulting costs associated with the implementation of the new systems/technologies/equipment
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for an M4.0 grant, your business must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be an existing business in good standing with the State of Maryland
- Have between 3 and 150 full-time employees (defined as an employee who works at least 1,800 hours in a 12-month period)
- Have minimum annual revenue of $1m, not including grant funding
- Have a two-digit NAICS code of 31-33
- Have been established for a minimum of 3 years
- Be in good standing with federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health regulations
- Demonstrate an ability to successfully implement the proposed project
- Demonstrate an overall commitment to, or strategy for, Industry 4.0 adoption
- Demonstrate ability to provide matching funds
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HOW TO APPLY
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Grants of $15,000-$50,000 will be made available to manufacturers to adopt new technologies, machinery and robotics, and digital business practices in order to remain competitive and drive growth.
- Grant awards will vary based on the applicant's total investment, not to exceed 50% of the total eligible project costs.
- Applicants must be an established Maryland manufacturing business and demonstrate experience, technical expertise and financial capacity to implement the proposed modernization project.
- Eligible costs include but are not limited to expenses such as machinery, equipment, software, implementation/installation costs, and training of employees on use of the new technology.
- Consultant fees directly associated with implementation of the eligible project costs, such as design and layout of new equipment, soft costs such as license fees, and training costs are permitted, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Funding decisions will be made based on a variety of evaluation criteria, including but not limited to technical capability, operational experience, and financial capacity supporting the project.
- Funds will be disbursed as follows: 50% at notice of award, with remaining 50% paid upon completion with proof of expenses.
- Grant awards are competitive and limited to available funds.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Todd Sabin
Program Manager, Manufacturing
443-388-0735
todd.sabin@maryland.gov
Read More
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PLUS | Visit Baltimore City SourceLink
Events, services, resources, more for small businesses operating in Baltimore City.
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SourceLink is hosted by our Center's operator, the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Development.
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NATIONAL, REGIONAL & STATE
COVID-19 NOTICE, RESOURCE, SERVICE LINKS
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