Grants

Grant Program Helps Massachusetts Organizations Reduce Toxic Chemical Use

Each year, TURI awards grants to Massachusetts organizations in the following categories: industry, small business, community and academic research. 

We recently awarded this year's grants to:

• Central Metal Finishing Inc. of North Andover will purchase new cleaning equipment to eliminate the use of n-propyl bromide, a hazardous chemical that can affect the central nervous and reproductive systems.
• S.E. Shires of Holliston, a maker of custom brass musical instruments, will purchase an aqueous ultrasonic cleaning machine for a new line of larger instruments.
• Rindge School of Technical Arts of Cambridge will create a safer environment for students who learn and work in the automotive technology program by replacing solvents with bio-based parts washing systems.
• North Randolph Cleaners will convert its dry cleaning shop from using perc, a likely human carcinogen, to professional wet cleaning.
• Associate Professor Hsi-Wu Wong in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UMass Lowell aims to identify safer, effective solvents in collaboration with Johnson Matthey, a manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, at its facilities in North Andover and Devens.
• Professor Ramaswamy Nagarajan in the Department of Plastics Engineering at UMass Lowell will work with Transene Company of Danvers to research safer chemicals, to replace PFAS surfactants used in electronic processing chemicals.
• Community Action Works and Clean Water Fund of Boston will provide workshops and resources to community members about PFAS in drinking water, helping them to identify opportunities to reduce the use of PFAS in consumer products and other applications.
• Nantucket PFAS Action Group will work with firefighters to replace firefighter gear containing PFAS, study the impacts of this replacement and educate firefighters about PFAS and safer alternatives.
• Silent Spring Institute of Newton and Resilient Sisterhood Project of Boston will use social media to share information about toxic chemicals and safer alternatives, with a focus on personal care products marketed to Black women.

While this year's grant deadline has passed, reach out to the TURI staff member below to discuss your future project ideas. The application deadline for grants is typically the end of June.

Grant Programs and Contacts

Industry Grants

Industry Grants provide funding to qualified Massachusetts manufacturers to implement process modification or modernization opportunities that reduce the use of toxic chemicals. Contact Joy Onasch.

Small Business Grants

Small Business Grants provide funding to qualified small businesses in Massachusetts to change processes or replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives. Contact Joy Onasch.

Community Grants

Community Grants are available for community organizations and municipal departments to create and promote healthier communities by implementing toxics use reduction projects and educating people about safer alternatives. Contact Rachel Massey.

Academic Research Grants

Academic Research Grants provide seed funding to UMass faculty and graduate students to conduct research intended to help Massachusetts companies develop solutions for some of the more challenging uses of toxic chemicals. Contact Contact Greg Morose. 

To receive notices each year of the request for proposals, sign up to receive the TURI Newsletter.