ACCELERATION GRANTS & TRAINING UNDER RI MADE
How RI MADE Works
Over the life of the program, RI MADE will provide support to a minimum of 50 small and medium-sized Rhode Island manufacturers that are in the DoD supply chain or considering defense-related contracts. Training and allocations are funded by a five-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC).
Click on the links below to find out how the RI MADE Consortium will leverage that funding to:
√ Provide automation and robotics education, training and capital investment to strengthen DoD supply chain companies.
This includes up to 25 small business assistance grants (up to $50,000 per company) to execute recommendations from automation and robotics assessments.
√ Educate and train 450 students and workers on an Industry 4.0 assessment process aligned with the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute framework.
√ Provide cyber resiliency education, training, and capital investment programs to strengthen DoD supply chain companies.
This includes up to 25 small business assistance grants (up to $50,000 per company) to DoD manufacturing companies to execute recommendations from cyber assessments
√ Train 275 workers and students in Manufacturing times Digital (MxD) Institute cybersecurity programs and curricula.
√ Expand ecosystem capacity to provide assessment, training, supplier matching and potentially capital investment to companies not yet connected to the Defense supply chain.
ROLLING APPLICATION – 3 to 4 cohorts/yr
All RI Manufacturers Are Eligible to Accelerate Their Businesses with RI MADE Support!
Any Rhode Island manufacturing company, including those currently in the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain and those who are considering defense-related contracts, are invited to apply for RI MADE.
There are multiple cohorts each year, with applications accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
PHASE ONE
Each school term, teams of University of Rhode Island students andfaculty are trained by ARM, MxD and Polaris MEP. Once trained,these teams function as consultants, executing three (3) Acceleration Assessments, specifically in the areas of:
- risk mitigation
- automation and robotics, and
- cyber resiliency.
These assessments take place at companies who have applied to RIMADE and been selected by an independent review committee.
There is no cost to the companies to participate!
Participating companies receive a report highlighting strengths and weaknesses, as well as recommendations for improvements. The Acceleration Assessment report is valued at more than $3,000.
Related:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PDF of Application
PHASE TWO
In this step, RI MADE shifts its focus from identifying opportunities and risks to project implementation and funding support.
Companies can apply for up to $50,000 in technical and/or capital assistance and support for projects recommended by the Acceleration Assessment.
These projects will fall in the areas of risk mitigation and business practices, cyber security, and/or robotics and automation.
Once again, an independent committee reviews applications and allocates funds for approved projects.
Related:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PDF of Application
Training for the Next Generation of Manufacturing Innovators
College students are a key part of the RI MADE initiative. The program is not only making investments in manufacturing facilities or technology, it’s investing in the future workforce that will keep these companies innovating and growing.
Hundreds of students will receive education, training and on-the-job consulting experience over the course of the program.
Students are paid to work as part of teams of consultants.
They get training from national leaders in cybersecurity and automation, and gain exposure to Rhode Island manufacturing businesses and employers, through site tours and report-outs.
Click below to find out more.