Grants

The New York State Fashion Innovation Center (FIC) Announces First Round of Pilot Grants Open on September 15, 2024

The Fashion Innovation Center (FIC) is excited to announce a new grant opportunity aimed at supporting startups, small businesses, farmers, researchers, and individuals working on the development of textile fiber-related products and technologies. The application period is now open for innovative projects that advance the Center’s goals. Each applicant can request up to $10,000 in funding. This opportunity is part of a bi-annual grant program running for the next five years,

The (FIC), created and funded through an Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) initiative, seeks to expand the use of renewable animal, plant, and biomanufactured fibers in the fashion industry and bolster a resilient farm-to-fashion ecosystem throughout New York State, fostering innovation and sustainability in the sector.

The FIC plans to make grant awards that stimulate innovation in four areas:

● Agricultural production and processing

● New Materials and Manufacturing

● Manufacturing and Textile Technology Innovation, Improvement and Expansion

● Fashion Use of Sustainable Materials

In addition to funding, grant awardees will become part of a cohort that will receive mentoring from experts in their industries, and have access to equipment, facilities, and other resources to advance their projects.

The FIC encourages grant applications from start-ups, small businesses, farmers, university-based researchers, sole proprietors, and individuals. The FIC welcomes participation by military veterans, women minorities, and socially or economically disadvantaged entities. Collaborative applications are allowed, but the maximum award is $10,000. Possible projects include, but are not limited to: new fashion or home décor products made with New York raised wool, hemp, or flax; addressing related supply chain and manufacturing issues; and or the development of a New York grown or made feedstocks for biomanufactured textile fibers.

The FIC encourages imaginative and innovative proposals that expand the use of sustainable textiles in the fashion industry with potential to support local economies across New York State. Basic science research will not be funded.

A Q&A session is scheduled for Oct 15, 2024 at 4PM via Webex: https://rensselaer.webex.com/rensselaer/j.php?MTID=m1e12938ad7226eb6c6cf251e3acfa5b6

The deadline to apply of October 30 is now extended to November 15. Proposal submission instructions and other award information are provided in the downloadable Request for Proposals pdf document. For questions, please contact ficgrants@rpi.edu.