Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP)

Grant Overview

Connecticut has put $38.6 million into more than 780 manufacturers through the Manufacturing Voucher Program since 2015^[1]. The $100K lifetime cap draws attention. What draws disqualifications is signing a vendor contract before the application is submitted. That single sequencing mistake is the most documented reason CT manufacturers lose access to this program^[5]. This page is built around getting that sequence right.

As of March 2026, the CCAT portal showed MVP in “Waiting on Receipt of New Funding” status^[8]. Whether it reopened by May 2026 is unconfirmed. Check the live CCAT status page before requesting vendor quotes or building a budget around this cycle.

Key Grant Information

Active

49 days left

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Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP)

Funded by Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) | CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)

02

Grant Snapshot

Grant Award

$100,000

Application Deadline

June 30, 2026 49 days left

Eligible Region

Connecticut

03

Eligibility and Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• Registered with CT Secretary of State for 3+ years
• Good standing with CT Department of Revenue Services
• Good standing with CT Department of Labor
• 3-100 full-time employees
• At least 51% revenue from manufacturing or allied services
• Total project value at least $25000
• Project cannot be committed to before application
• Third-party vendor must execute the project
• Vendor quotes must be dated within 90 days of submission
• Maximum lifetime MVP total not exceeding $100k

04

Focus Areas

Manufacturing Equipment Productivity Improvement Matching Grant

Eligibility and fit

The program rules were revised in May 2022. Many sites still carry pre-revision figures like a $49,000 maximum or 300-employee limit. The current confirmed lifetime cap is $100,000 and the employee maximum is 100 FTE^[2]. Run the eligibility tool below to test your company against the current gates.

If your project value is under $25,000, you are not eligible for MVP. Consider the Additive Voucher Program (AVP) which has a $5,000 minimum project threshold. If you have already signed a vendor proposal, purchase order, or paid a deposit, that project is ineligible for MVP funding^[5].

Award amounts and match rules

In FY2025, MVP funded 96 companies with $4.56 million in direct grants. The average award was approximately $47,450^[6]. That round drew $17.8 million in private investment across those projects.

This is a reimbursement grant. You pay the vendor first, then receive the grant portion after project completion and documentation. The state’s share depends on your history with the program^[3].

Many first-time applicants assume a 50/50 split. That was true before the 2022 revision. The current two-tier structure is the reality. Verify your available cash before starting technical paperwork.

Eligible project types

Funds support productivity improvements executed by a third-party vendor^[2]. Confirmed examples include:

• CNC machining equipment and tooling development
• Additive manufacturing hardware (3D printers)
• ERP and MRP software implementation
• Automation robotics and AI-integrated tools
• Compliance and monitoring equipment or software
• Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) acquisition^[9]
• Installation, training, and validation services tied to eligible equipment

Application steps and portal setup

Applications go through the CCAT Salesforce portal on a rolling basis within the funded cycle. The portal is JavaScript-only and requires active browser settings.

Vendor quotes must be dated within 90 days of your application submission^[4]. If the program is in a “Waiting on Funding” status, delay requesting official quotes until the status changes to “Open” to prevent expiration during the wait.

Scoring criteria and deadlines

The MVP 2.0 cycle runs through June 30, 2026. Applications process in order received. There is no public scoring rubric, but common disqualifiers include:

After award, winners must submit a Statement of Program Cost, proof of payment, and a 6-month impact report. The program includes a claw-back clause if the approved project scope is not implemented^[7].

Winner examples

Nissha Medical Technologies used MVP to adopt smart manufacturing in their medical device facility^[2]. Radcliff Wire used the program to acquire a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) that improved measurement accuracy and throughput^[9]. These projects show MVP supports both high-end automation and precision measurement upgrades.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CT Manufacturing Voucher Program currently open?

Check the CCAT funding programs page directly. MVP 2.0 runs through June 30, 2026. Status can shift with state funding availability.

What is the cash match requirement?

First-time applicants provide a 2:1 match (company pays 67% of total project cost). Repeat applicants provide a 3:1 match (company pays 75%)^[3].

Can I apply if I already signed a vendor contract?

No. Projects with any commitment (signed proposals, purchase orders, or deposits) before application submission are ineligible^[5].

What happens if I do not finish the project?

The grant includes a claw-back clause. If you receive funding but fail to implement the project scope as described, the state can require the funds to be returned^[7].

Glossary of terms

CCAT

Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, the nonprofit that administers MVP on behalf of DECD.

MIF

Manufacturing Innovation Fund, the state-funded pool that supplies dollars for MVP and sibling programs.

No-prior-commitment

Rule preventing applicants from signing contracts or paying vendors before the grant application is filed.

Match ratio

Percentage of total project cost the manufacturer must pay in cash. First-time applicants pay 67 percent.

Claw-back

Legal provision allowing the state to reclaim grant funds if the project scope is not implemented.

How Grantaura helps with MVP friction

The administrative sequence creates the real workload. We remove burden in four specific places:

• Funding window monitoring: We track the CCAT portal daily. When “Waiting on Funding” status clears, we notify you so your 90-day quote window starts at the right time.
• Standing verification: Most manufacturers do not realize they have a DRS or DOL standing issue until the state rejects the application. We pre-verify your standing so you can resolve problems before the window opens.
• Sequence auditing: One signed paper can disqualify a $100K award. Our expert consultation provides a 1-on-1 review to audit your project timeline before you sign anything.
• Post-award tracking: The 6-month impact report is a legal requirement many winners forget. Our dashboard tracks your compliance documents long after equipment is installed.

If you want a technical review of your project scope or a sequence check to ensure you have not accidentally committed to the vendor yet, you can start full application submission through Grantaura’s managed service.

Start Full Application Submission

Next steps for your project

For manufacturers with facilities in other states, the NJ Small Business Improvement Grant offers a similar rolling matching structure for equipment. For Connecticut projects, MVP remains the primary state-level option for capital equipment upgrades.

About the author

Shahzad Nawaz is an author at Grantaura. His work stays close to source material and keeps the next step clear for readers evaluating complex grant rules.

For this page, the analysis focused on official CCAT details, state annual reports, and program rules revised in 2022. The evidence shows that while MVP has moved $38.6 million through Connecticut’s manufacturing sector, its strict timing rules regarding vendor contracts are the primary cause of applicant rejection. This resource maps those specific administrative requirements.

Source Notes

• CBIA: Manufacturing Innovation Fund Investments Increase in 2024: confirms $38.6M lifetime disbursed to 780+ companies. Back to claim
• CCAT MVP Program Info: confirms $100k lifetime cap, 100-employee maximum, third-party vendor requirement, and approved use categories. Back to claim
• CCAT MVP Program Info: confirms the two-tier match ratios (67% first-time, 75% repeat). Back to claim
• CCAT MVP Program Info: confirms vendor quotes must be dated within 90 days of application submission. Back to claim
• CCAT MVP Program Info: confirms the no-prior-commitment rule (no signed proposals, POs, or deposits before application). Back to claim
• FY25 MIF Annual Report: confirms 96 companies funded, $47,450 average award. Back to claim
• CCAT MVP Program Info: describes the claw-back clause for unfulfilled project scopes. Back to claim
• CCAT Available Funding Programs Status: shows MVP in wait status as of March 2026. Back to claim
• Radcliff Wire: Free Programs Facilitate Funding: confirms MVP funding used for CMM acquisition. Back to claim

[
  {
    "url": "https://grantaura.com/grant/nj-business-improvement/",
    "custom_description": "New Jersey equipment matching grant for small manufacturers with rolling applications. Similar audience and format to CT MVP, though in a different state. Offers comparable funding structure for capital equipment upgrades."
  }
]