Supplemental Award Boosts Co-Manufacturer Expansion Project

Little Bird Kitchen was looking to position itself to be a co-manufacturer to support the many small businesses leaving incubators looking to scale up production but not yet ready to stand on their own. To do this, LBK wanted to increase its packaging line capability as well as additional pieces of equipment and hire additional staff. For help, the LBK team turn to the Manufacturing  & Technology Resource Consortium at Stony Brook University (MTRC), the Long Island regional MEP center, part of the New York MEP and the the MEP National Network™.

Thanks to MTRC's supplemental award grant program, the company qualified for a match to their capital equipment purchase. With that, they were able to purchase additional manufacturing equipment to their new food manufacturing line. Because of these new tools, LBK has attracted several national customers. This created the need for additional staff.  With this, LBK has been able to support more startup companies that are making the jump from the incubation stage to the national spotlight.