U.S. Senator Jack Reed and RI Governor Gina Raimondo Visit to Providence Manufacturer Goodwin-Bradley highlights potential for growth

The event focused on Goodwin-Bradley’s support from the Manufacturing Innovation
Challenge – part of a $2.9 Million Federal Grant supporting manufacturing innovation
in RI
Applications for next round of MIC awards are now open

For Immediate Release – November 14, 2016 – PROVIDENCE, RI – U.S. Senator
Jack Reed and RI Governor Gina Raimondo visited Goodwin-Bradley, a Providence
manufacturer who has received a Strategic Assessment award through the Manufacturing
Innovation Challenge, a program of Polaris MEP and part of a comprehensive program
funded by a $2.9 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to RI
Commerce Corporation. The roundtable discussion and tour highlighted
Goodwin-Bradley’s current strategy for growth, which has been advanced with the
Strategic Assessment. Goodwin-Bradley is a 104-year old, family-owned company that
manufacturers complex 3D surface compression molds and prototypes for a variety of
industries including medical, nuclear and aerospace. Applications for the next round
of Manufacturing Innovation Challenge awards are
now open.
«Rhode Island has a strong defense and manufacturing industry, and Goodwin-Bradley
is a prime example of this,» stated U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of both the
Armed Services and Appropriations Committees. «We need to constantly look ahead and
ensure we’re preparing for the future, and programs like the Manufacturing
Innovation Challenge are bringing to bear opportunities for these industries to
continue to thrive. I am pleased to see the work of this innovative program, and I
will continue working to provide critical resources to help companies like
Goodwin-Bradley seize new opportunities.»
Goodwin-Bradley is one of 32 manufacturers awarded through the Manufacturing
Innovation Challenge program in August of this year. The Challenge is a competitive
opportunity for RI manufacturers to access expertise and hands-on design and product
development talent to stimulate business growth, innovation and strategic
advancement. It is the state’s most significant investment in Rhode Island’s
manufacturing sector currently, thanks to federal funds through Rhode Island
Commerce Corporation.
«The Manufacturing Innovation Challenge is a game changer for many manufacturers who
have taken part in the program to date,» said Rhode Island Governor, Gina Raimondo.
«We’re proud to be working with manufacturers such as Goodwin-Bradley, and we are
very excited about Goodwin-Bradley’s expansion and growth endeavors. My team at
Commerce RI will continue to work with Polaris MEP and others to bring together some
of the top talent and expertise in the state, and infuse innovation in the
manufacturing sector.»
«Polaris MEP has been happy to work with Goodwin-Bradley for many years, assisting
in their evolution as a manufacturer in Rhode Island,» said Christian Cowan, Center
Director for Polaris MEP. «And so, we were very excited to have yet another
opportunity to help them in their business efforts through the Manufacturing
Innovation Challenge. This program brought Goodwin-Bradley a world-class experts
from multiple disciplines and tangible recommendations to move forward. We look
forward to continuing this work with Goodwin-Bradley and the many other
manufacturers taking part in the Challenge.»
«For a small manufacturer like us, programs through Polaris MEP are incredibly
helpful in our continued growth,» said Robert Goodwin, President of Goodwin-Bradley.
«This Manufacturing Innovation Challenge program helped us access consultants that
we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise, who helped us see things that we hadn’t
seen. Their observations have been very useful to us as we look to how we will grow
in the next few years.»
Awards from the first Manufacturing Innovation Challenge application round totaled
nearly $700,000. Goodwin-Bradley received a Phase One Strategic Assessment. In this
Phase, manufacturers get access to a top team of experts who evaluate the
manufacturers’ current innovation landscape. This deep dive into the company
involves over 75 hours of expert consulting led through strategic design
facilitation. The deliverable is innovative ideas and actionable recommendations for
business growth.
Manufacturers who complete Phase One can then be eligible for Phase Two Growth
Implementation projects, to be awarded again in early 2017. With ideas and
recommendations in hand from the prior phase, companies may access funding to
support implementation plans for business development and innovation.
Applications are now open for a second round of competitive opportunities in the
Manufacturing Innovation Challenge program for Phase One Strategic Assessments.
Awards are available to qualifying RI manufacturers with a defense focus.
Applications can be found at
www.polarismep.org/challenge. Deadline is
November 23, 2016 at 12:00 pm. For questions, contact Polaris MEP at
401-270-8896 or email
MIC@polarismep.org<mailto:mic@polarismep.org>.

About Polaris MEP
Polaris MEP is a statewide non-profit organization that provides competitive
manufacturing business improvement programs to grow Rhode Island’s manufacturing
industry. Polaris is an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Program (NIST MEP) and a business unit of the
University of Rhode Island Research Foundation. Since 1996 Polaris has delivered
improvement solutions to more than 750 Rhode Island manufacturers to help them
achieve sustainable and profitable growth. Learn more at
http://polarismep.org.