New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center

What New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center does

New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (NETAAC) is a federally-designated, government-funded non-profit organization headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts, founded in 1980 as one of eleven Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs) operating across the United States. NETAAC provides cost-share consulting and grant assistance to manufacturing companies in the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) that have experienced declines in sales, production, or employment attributable to import competition. The organization administers a 3-phase program (Certification, Adjustment Plan, Implementation) under which qualifying manufacturers receive grants subsidized 75% by federal funds up to $30,000 and 50% above that, up to a $150,000 cap per project.

NETAAC's core deliverables are organized into five assistance categories: manufacturing process improvement (Lean, ISO/QS, CAD/CAM), marketing and sales (branding, digital presence, export development), information technology (ERP, e-commerce, EDI), design and engineering (prototyping, product refinement), and financial and general management (cash management, strategic planning, HR). Services are delivered through a curated network of private-sector service consultants selected by the client manufacturer, with NETAAC staff providing eligibility determination, adjustment plan oversight, and grant administration. The business model is structured as federal grant pass-through and cost-share administration: NETAAC receives funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration under the Department of Commerce and disburses it to qualifying clients, with firm-side contributions of 25-50% depending on grant size.

The organization's go-to-market relies on a website-driven qualification inquiry form, referral partnerships with six state Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, and published success stories/testimonials from completed engagements. Documented client outcomes include average 45% productivity growth within two years of program completion and a 300%+ ROI per a 1998 Urban Institute study. Leadership is stable, with Executive Director Lisa McHatton (in role since 2006, with the organization since the late 1980s) supported by a Business Recovery Specialist and an Office Administrator, with governance provided by a multi-state Board of Directors.

Name

New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center

Legal name

New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, Inc.

Website

https://netaac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NETAAC is a federally-designated non-profit that delivers cost-shared consulting grants and technical assistance to import-impacted manufacturers across the six New England states under the U.S. EDA TAA for Firms program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government-funded Manufacturing Assistance

SIC

Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Facilitation, Customs & Border Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAG)

Keywords

• Trade adjustment assistance
• Manufacturer cost-share grants
• Federal economic development
• Manufacturing consulting services
• Import impact assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Billerica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: NETAAC receives funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration under the Department of Commerce through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Firms program. This funding is passed through to qualifying manufacturers as cost-sharing grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NETAAC is a federally-funded non-profit that delivers cost-share grants and consulting assistance to New England manufacturers negatively impacted by import trade. Operating as one of eleven Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs) in the U.S., it provides subsidized expertise across manufacturing processes, marketing and sales, information technology, design/engineering, and financial management through a structured 3-phase application process.

Product overview

NETAAC offers a portfolio of five co-funded assistance programs delivered through a 3-phase grant process (Certification, Adjustment Plan, Implementation). Manufacturing Assistance covers process improvements and ISO compliance; Marketing & Sales Assistance supports branding and digital presence; Information Technology Assistance enables system integration and automation; Design & Engineering Assistance focuses on product development; and Financial & Management Assistance provides operational and strategic guidance. All services are subsidized through federal grants (75% up to $30,000, 50% above) with no technology product or software offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manufacturing Assistance Grant-funded assistance for improving manufacturing processes, including ISO/QS 9000 preparation, productivity improvement, CAD/CAM systems, LEAN manufacturing, and quality assurance initiatives, delivered to import-impacted New England manufacturers.
• Marketing & Sales Assistance Grant-funded assistance for developing branding, market positioning, advertising, website design, e-commerce development, digital PR, social media marketing, and export development, targeted at manufacturers seeking to grow sales.
• Information Technology Assistance Grant-funded assistance for hardware/software evaluation, system conversion, ERP implementation, office automation, e-commerce integration, custom programming, and EDI implementation, helping manufacturers modernize IT infrastructure.
• Design & Engineering Assistance Grant-funded assistance for product research, design, prototyping, development, testing, and product line refinement to enhance unique selling propositions and market share for import-impacted manufacturers.
• Financial & General Management Assistance Grant-funded assistance for cash management, cost accounting, profit planning, organizational analysis, human resources planning, strategic planning, and customized training, providing operational and strategic guidance to manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% average productivity growth within two years of program completion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Manufacturing Extension Partnership that serves as an affiliated resource and referral partner for NETAAC services.
• Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MA MEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState MEP serving as an affiliated resource and referral partner in Massachusetts.
• New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NH MEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState MEP serving as an affiliated resource and referral partner in New Hampshire.
• Connecticut Manufacturing Resource (CONNSTEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState manufacturing resource organization serving as an affiliated resource and referral partner in Connecticut.
• Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (ME MEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState MEP serving as an affiliated resource and referral partner in Maine.
• Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership (RI MEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState MEP (now Polaris MEP) serving as an affiliated resource and referral partner in Rhode Island.
• Service Consultants NetworkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExtensive database of private-sector technical and consulting firms that NETAAC makes available to clients for implementing approved projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Southeast Trade Adjustment Assistance Center: Sister TAAC center serving the southeastern United States under the same federal mandate. Operates the same cost-share grant structure for import-impacted manufacturers.
• Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center: Sister TAAC center serving the Great Lakes region (Michigan/Ohio) under the same EDA TAA for Firms program. Operates an identical cost-sharing model and delivers the same five categories of consulting assistance to import-impacted manufacturers.
• Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center: One of the other 10 federally designated Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers, serving manufacturers in the Mid-America region (Kansas, Missouri, etc.) with the same federal mandate, cost-sharing grant structure, and 3-phase application process. Direct parallel to NETAAC in mission, funding source, and operating model.
• Pacific Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center: Another of the 11 federally designated TAACs, serving Pacific Northwest manufacturers. Direct organizational peer with identical funding source, eligibility criteria, and service portfolio.

Regional players

• CONNSTEP: Connecticut Manufacturing Extension Partnership and a NETAAC referral partner. Delivers manufacturing improvement, quality systems, and growth advisory services to CT manufacturers, partially overlapping with NETAAC's service portfolio.
• MassMEP: Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership and a formal NETAAC referral partner. Provides similar manufacturing process improvement, IT, and operational consulting to MA manufacturers through a different funding model (state/federal, not TAA for Firms).
• Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC): Vermont MEP and formal NETAAC affiliate/referral partner. Provides lean manufacturing, growth services, and operational consulting to Vermont manufacturers, overlapping with NETAAC's service lines for a regional subset of customers.
• Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership: Maine MEP and formal NETAAC affiliate/referral partner. Provides manufacturing, business development, and workforce consulting to ME manufacturers, offering services that partially overlap with NETAAC's portfolio.
• Polaris MEP: Rhode Island's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (formerly RI MEP) and a NETAAC referral partner. Delivers growth services, training, and operational improvement to RI manufacturers in a complementary capacity.

Broad incumbents

• NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): National network of 51 MEPs serving U.S. manufacturers, including NETAAC's state-level partners. MEP centers offer overlapping manufacturing, marketing, IT, and engineering consulting to a broader manufacturer base without the import-impact eligibility gating, making them adjacent incumbents in the same service category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-england-trade-adjustment-assistance-center-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center