2.4 Support growth to scale (four action items)

2.4.1 Increase by 20% annually over the next five years state funding of capital, mentoring and advice, including shared facilities for the making and testing of product prototypes, to support the growth of small and mid-sized businesses, building on the examples of the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and the Treasurer’s Small Business Banking Partnership.

Contact: Eric Nakajima

CY2012 Progress:

  • $250,000 appropriation to Small Business Association of New England (SBANE) for Manufacturing Matching Grant Program.
  • $450,000 match for technical assistance – Mass Growth Capital’s “Tools to Grow” program – piloted in Springfield.

2.4.2 Increase the participation of our small and mid-sized businesses in the supply chain of our major corporate operations, building on the example of the “BuyHere” initiative of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts

Contact: Eric Nakajima

CY2012 Progress:

  • SBANE sponsored defense industry supply chain event with Mass Development.
  • Raytheon sponsored Council on Competitiveness Forum focused on improving innovation in supply chain.

2.4.3 Raise the profile of advanced manufacturing as an integral part of our innovation economy by encouraging young people to enter the sector and by facilitating the adoption of local innovations into our small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses

Contact: Eric Nakajima

CY2013 Progress:

CY2012 Progress:

  • Launched Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and Industry Report.
  • Launched “AMP It Up” – career promotional campaign at Mass Development.
  • 15 regional partners applied to participate in campaign.
  • The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) is launching a partnership with the UMass Amherst Innovation Institute to provide integrated services linking manufacturers to business services from MEP and UMass research centers.

2.4.4 Make a systematic effort to work with growing Massachusetts companies to locate their call centers, other sales/marketing/customer service offices and other administrative offices within the state.

Contact: Jim Ermilio

CY2012 Progress:

  • Massachusetts Office of Business Development incorporates business expansion discussion on all company visits to determine opportunity – of the 130 meetings, 13 businesses identified for further discussion.
  • MOBD acts as central point for economic agencies targeting business expansion and tracks data.
  • CEO and additional influencer target list developed for calendar 2013 outreach.