This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CFDA’s Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI), the organization’s longest standing public-private partnership.
FMI was initiated in 2013 by the CFDA and Andrew Rosen, in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, to support local New York City fashion manufacturing. The NYC manufacturing ecosystem has been a critical resource for U.S. designers developing and/or producing their products locally for decades and FMI has aimed to support both designer and manufacturer to preserve these important business relationships.
To celebrate a decade of support, the CFDA and its partners unveil a new round of the FMI Grant Fund, a partially matching grant fund aimed at advancing technology and innovation, as well as workforce development and business growth.
The FMI Grant Fund, which has invested over $4.2 million over seven rounds of grants and FMI across all its programs, impacted over 3,500 jobs since its inception. FMI has been made possible by investments from both the NYCEDC as well as industry leaders including the FMI’s Premier Underwriter, the Ralph Lauren Corporation, among others.
Driving sustainable change through innovation as well as supporting diverse communities across NYC are tentpole goals of the FMI Grant Fund. The last round of the fund supported 12 businesses, of which 70 percent were women-owned and 50 percent were minority-owned. Fifty percent of the recipients in 2022 were first-time recipient of funds.
The 2023 round of the FMI Grant Fund launches today with applications being accepted until March 15, 2023. Applicants must adhere to strict requirements and funding parameters in order to be considered for funding, which maxes out at $150,000 per recipient with two-thirds of the total coming from the CFDA.
Social compliance audits and city/financial reviews are required for all applicants who advance to the finalist round to ensure companies are following applicable city, state and federal laws.
New York City manufacturers developing and/or producing finished fashion products (clothing, accessories, and jewelry) as well as companies producing innovative fashion materials are both able to apply for funding.
Important information regarding this year’s FMI Grant Fund can be reviewed in the 2023 Program Brief here.
To apply, please complete the application here.
Questions can be routed to supplychain@cfda.com or via the office hours mentioned in the 2023 Program Brief.
Photos: Gregory Wikstrom / @gre.gor.y
