In this episode of BIC Presents, host PJ Moynihan is joined by Ben Sosne, Executive Director of the Berkshire Innovation Center, and Lily Fitzgerald, Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech Collaborative, for a deep dive into the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MMAP). The conversation follows a ribbon-cutting event at Lenco Armored Vehicles in Pittsfield, highlighting how MMAP funding supports real-world investments in advanced manufacturing equipment.
Lily explains MassTech’s role as a quasi-public economic development agency and outlines how MMAP provides non-dilutive, capital-based grants to small and medium-sized manufacturers with 500 or fewer employees. Rather than funding startups, the program focuses on established, often multi-generational manufacturers facing growth bottlenecks related to demand, workforce challenges, or outdated processes. The episode explores how MMAP funding enables investments in automation, equipment, and other infrastructure that improves efficiency while freeing workers to focus on higher-value tasks.
Ben shares how MMAP aligns closely with the BIC’s mission, noting its catalytic effect across the regional manufacturing ecosystem. Using Lenco as an example, the discussion illustrates how the application process itself often prompts companies to rethink their operations and pursue larger-scale modernization efforts. The episode also highlights recent program evolution, including MMAP’s transition into a true accelerator model and its measurable economic impact, including job creation, workforce upskilling, and supply chain growth throughout Massachusetts.
Links:
Berkshire Innovation Center:
https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/
MassTech Collaborative - Center for Advanced Manufacturing:
Produced by Nate Christy & PJ Moynihan, BIC Studios.
