BOSTON (WHDH) – The Baker-Polito Administration announced Thursday that they have awarded more than $6.5 million in grants to 13 Massachusetts organizations to aid them in developing new products amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The new grants from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Emergency Response Team will help drive in-state manufacturing of critical products, including masks, hand sanitizer, and gowns.

So far, MERT has awarded more than $16 million to organizations and has led to the production of more than 11 million pieces of personal protective equipment and other critical pieces as of September.

“The MERT program continues to identify and support successful ‘Made in Massachusetts’ manufacturers that produce Personal Protective Equipment for our front-line responders, business owners, and residents,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. “This program and the sheer output from these manufacturers has been central to the Commonwealth’s fight against COVID-19.”

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito added, “Our administration is pleased to support these capital and workforce training requests to ensure Massachusetts’ manufacturing sector will continue to produce in the face of these tough economic times. As we emerge from this public health crisis, our hope is that these new product lines spur job creation and drive growth for these companies, while also establishing new supply chains for our in-state purchasers of PPE.”

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