Industry Grants

TURI offers industry grants to qualified Massachusetts manufacturers to offset the cost of projects that reduce the use of toxic chemicals. This year's grants were awarded 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. Working with the TURI Lab, Central Metal Finishing will find a safer alternative that works with the new equipment. The company’s goals are to protect worker health and safety and increase production capacity for its aerospace and medical device customers.
• 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. In 2018, the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance helped S.E. Shires eliminate the use of trichloroethylene (TCE), a toxic solvent that was used to clean the instruments. To continue using a water-based cleaning solution and not revert back to using TCE, S.E. Shires is working with the TURI Lab to identify aqueous products that effectively remove debris and oils from brass surfaces.

Read about the all grant projects. The deadline date for applications is typically the end of June. Feel free to contact Joy Onasch with questions or to discuss future project ideas.

Who is Eligible

Manufacturers in Massachusetts are eligible if they:

• Have a manufacturing facility in Massachusetts that will be the location of the grant project.
• Are part of the TURA regulated sector (SIC 10-14, 20-39, 40, 44-51, 72, 73, 75 or 76)

Preference is given to companies that:

• Use listed toxic chemicals (visit www.turi.org/listed_chemicals) for more information.
• Have at least 10 full-time employees.

If you don't meet these criteria, please look into your eligibility for a Small Business Grant.