News
April 28, 2020FuzeHub Awards COVID-19 Manufacturing Grants to Accelerate New York’s Production of Ventilators, Respirators
FuzeHub, the statewide center for the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP), announced the winners of its COVID-19 Manufacturing Grants initiative, a competitive grant program to accelerate production of ventilators and N95 respirators in New York State.
FuzeHub awarded a total of $300,000 in grant funding to four New York manufacturers.
- Precision Valve & Automation (PVA), Cohoes, N.Y., $100,000 to support its production of its PVA PREVENT™ emergency ventilator
- Spiro Devices, Brooklyn, N.Y., $100,000 to accelerate production of its Spiro Wave ventilation device
- Environmental Composites, Utica, N.Y., $50,000 for N95 mask manufacturing
- General Composites, Willsboro, N.Y., $50,000 for N95 mask manufacturing
“When New York State called for help, our manufacturing industry answered. Local manufacturers have been innovative, resourceful and courageous in addressing critical needs to combat the coronavirus,” said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. “The winners of FuzeHub’s COVID-19 Manufacturing Grants pivoted quickly and focused intensely on trying to solve some of the biggest problems our world has ever faced. Despite the magnitude of the challenge, these New York manufacturers stood tall and found a way to produce essential supplies that will help stop the spread of the virus and save lives. We’re grateful for their determination in this fight.”
FuzeHub launched its COVID-19 Manufacturing Grants program to help New York State-based, small to medium-sized manufacturing companies quickly accelerate production of personal protective equipment and respiratory care equipment.
The program focused on two tracks. The first, Prevent the Spread, awarded $50,000 grants to increase manufacturing capacity of N95 respirators, and the second track, Save Lives, provided $100,000 grants to increase the state’s manufacturing capacity of ventilators.
“The creativity and innovativeness of NY manufacturers came through loud and clear as they pivot to support the call for PPEs and respiratory care devices. The FuzeHub COVID-19 Grant serves to incentivize and offset some of the costs involved in their pivoting to respond to the needs of our NY community,” said FuzeHub Director of Solutions Program Everton H. Henriques.
The Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), a Cornell University research center dedicated to the development of advanced materials, will supplement FuzeHub’s COVID-19 Manufacturing Grants with an additional $10,000 – $2,500 per project – to provide the winning manufacturers with more resources to select, acquire and modify materials and equipment necessary for their projects.
