Why The Government Might Owe Your Foundry Money Webinar Recap

Grants Are Available, Foundries Should Take Advantage of the Resources Available to Them

Micki Vandeloo Shares Practical Guidance on Manufacturing Funding Opportunities

Manufacturers across the country continue to face pressure when it comes to workforce development, training, equipment investment, and operational improvements. While many foundries are aware that grants and funding programs exist, understanding where to look and how to navigate the process can often feel overwhelming.

That was the focus of a recent NFFS webinar hosted by Bill Padnos, Director of Workforce Development for the Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society (NFFS), featuring Micki Vandeloo, President of Lakeview Consulting.

Watch the full webinar recording here: NFFS Manufacturing Grants Webinar Recording

During the webinar, Vandeloo shared practical insight into the manufacturing grant landscape and explained that funding opportunities are available for companies willing to explore them and prepare in advance.

Drawing on more than 25 years of manufacturing experience and extensive work helping manufacturers secure funding, Vandeloo focused on simplifying the grant process and helping attendees better understand the opportunities that currently exist at the state and federal levels.

A major theme throughout the session was workforce development.

According to Vandeloo, workforce training, apprenticeships, and employee upskilling continue to receive significant attention from both state and federal agencies. Many grant programs are designed specifically to help manufacturers strengthen workforce pipelines, expand technical training, and improve long-term retention and productivity.

Training grants can often support initiatives such as technical skills development, lean manufacturing training, internal trainers, apprenticeship programs, and software or technology implementation. In some states, smaller manufacturers may qualify for higher reimbursement percentages as part of workforce investment initiatives.

Vandeloo also discussed the growing number of apprenticeship-related funding opportunities available to manufacturers that are building structured workforce development programs.

In addition to workforce initiatives, the webinar explored funding opportunities tied to equipment modernization, energy efficiency improvements, recycling projects, export development, and broader capital investments.

One of the most important takeaways from the
session was the importance of planning ahead.

Vandeloo explained that many grants support future activities rather than projects that have already been completed. For manufacturers considering equipment purchases, training programs, or facility improvements, early planning can create additional opportunities to secure funding support.

She encouraged manufacturers to organize key documents such as strategic plans, workforce development goals, equipment quotes, and capital investment plans so they are better positioned when opportunities become available.

Another important message throughout the webinar was that
manufacturers do not need to navigate the process alone.

Through the NFFS partnership with Lakeview Consulting, members have access to resources designed specifically for manufacturers, including a manufacturing grant database, monthly office hours with grant professionals, project guidance, and workforce funding support.

Padnos emphasized that the goal of the partnership is to help foundries better understand the resources available to them and feel more comfortable exploring funding opportunities that may support their operations and workforce initiatives.

The webinar reinforced a simple but important message: grants and funding programs are available, and foundries that take advantage of the resources, guidance, and expertise available through NFFS can position themselves to better identify opportunities that support long-term growth and workforce development.