Specialty Materials receives $2.3 million state manufacturing grant
November 17, 2021
Specialty Materials Inc., the world’s sole manufacturing provider of boron fiber, has received a $2.3 million grant from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) program.
The grant will allow the Lowell-based company to nearly triple its manufacturing capacity of the boron-based materials, which are used in U.S. Department of Defense aerospace programs like the F-15 fighter and the Seahawk helicopter, medical devices, race cars and boats, and even such sporting goods as golf clubs, hockey sticks and fishing rods.
“We want to do more,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who visited the Specialty Materials facility on Middlesex Street Tuesday to announce the grant. “We don’t rest on our laurels here in Massachusetts. We don’t accept that the status quo is enough. We accept the responsibility as an innovation hub that we need to partner with you to do more.”
Specialty Materials CEO Monica Rommel said the grant will allow the company to bring in 75 new jobs to the plant, in all different stages of the manufacturing process.