CONNSTEP Announces SMARTE Program for Manufacturers

(Hartford, CT, September 29, 2023) –CONNSTEP, the Connecticut Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center, announced today that it has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, State Manufacturing Leadership Program. The award is part of a federal grant to support Connecticut’s Smart Manufacturing Assessment and Access to Reduce Technology Emissions (SMARTE) program.

The goal of the SMARTE initiative is to reduce manufacturing energy consumption, costs, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and to improve energy efficiency. The program is funded for two years beginning in 2024 and will focus on aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries given their significant impact on the environment and economy in Connecticut. 

CONNSTEP will be collaborating with the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT), and the Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Connecticut to assist in the rapid deployment and adoption of smart manufacturing and High-Performance Computing (HPC) technologies for small-to-medium sized manufacturers.

According to CONNSTEP President and CEO Beatriz Gutierrez, “our organization is prepared to work with manufacturers in the state to not only help them implement smart manufacturing technologies for greater energy efficiency but also recommend process improvements to increase their workflow and productivity.”

For more information about the program, contact CONNSTEP today!

About CONNSTEP: A member of the MEP National Network, CONNSTEP is a manufacturing consultancy firm serving small-to-medium sized companies, implementing advanced business and technical solutions, and workforce strategies, that help organizations grow, improve profitability, and create sustainable competitive advantage.

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