FY 2021 (July 2020 through June 2021) included some of the most challenging months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire sector deserves praise for the agility and grit they displayed. In response to new challenges, Polaris MEP’s support to RI manufacturers took on new forms.

Despite the economic and health difficulties, Polaris MEP’s IMPACT during this time included $121.5 million in increased or retained sales and 1,628 jobs added or retained by small and medium-sized manufacturers.

A trusted non-profit, Polaris MEP is uniquely positioned to support manufacturing’s success in the Ocean State:

• Team members bring decades of experience to each challenge.
• We partner extensively with local, state and federal resources to provide a variety of custom solutions.
• We are the local affiliate of the national Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network.
• We are a unit of the URI Research Foundation.

Capturing the IMPACT of State- and Federally-Funded Manufacturing Support

As the Ocean State’s MEP Center, we leverage state funding to pull federal dollars down and provide resources to Rhode Island manufacturing companies. This sector includes ~1,400+ employers and accounts for nearly 10% of the state’s private sector workforce.

Download a PDF of the report to learn more about the positive outcomes of work with manufacturing employers in FY2021.

Questions? Comments? A desire to collaborate to strengthen Rhode Island manufacturing? Call us at 401-270-8896.

Preparing for Future Sector Growth & Resilience

[UPDATED] In FY2022, Polaris MEP produced the first-ever comprehensive study of the positive impact manufacturing has on RI’s economy.

Click here for a copy of the inaugural “State of RI Manufacturing” report.