Federal Announcements

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced 16 finalists for the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) competition, spanning a range of key technology areas and societal and economic challenges highlighted in the "CHIPS and Science Act." The NSF Engines will link up with local and regional partners to expand innovation across the nation and create collaborative and inclusive technology-driven innovation ecosystems.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $748,849 grant to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, to bolster Tennessee’s manufacturing sector. This grant will develop and implement a manufacturing growth model designed to improve workforce participation across Tennessee.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $1.2 million grant to the Emanuel County Development Authority, Swainsboro, Georgia, for sewer infrastructure improvements needed to support local business growth and job creation. This grant will provide for sewer system upgrades at the I-16 Industrial Park needed to boost its capacity to support a new logging manufacturing plant and other local businesses.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $2 million grant to the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to support workforce development and create jobs in clean energy manufacturing and other sectors.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $3 million grant to the New River Regional Water Authority in Austinville, Virginia, for water infrastructure improvements needed to support local business growth and job creation. This grant will expand the existing water treatment facility to boost its capacity to support a new rubber products manufacturing plant and other business needs.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.7 million grant to the town of Oxford, Indiana, for water infrastructure upgrades to support manufacturing. This project will increase capacity and reliability of water service to meet the increased needs of a local pharmaceutical manufacturer, Oxford’s largest employer.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $700,000 grant to Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to purchase equipment for workforce training programs at the college’s Storm Lake Regional Center in Buena Vista County. This project will support technical training programs in advanced manufacturing and welding, electrical technologies, industrial mechanics and machining, and health sciences.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6 million grant to the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, located in Marksville, Louisiana, for construction of a multi-enterprise manufacturing facility that will support the growth of the region’s manufacturing sector and create new jobs.

The Department of Defense (DOD) showcased more than 80 technologies critical to national defense during a demonstration event at the Pentagon. Hosted by the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program, also known as DOD ManTech, the meet-and-greet event featured advanced manufacturing technologies from its nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and the Service ManTech Programs, including Navy, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Logistics Agency.

The Department of Defense's Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization Directorate, announced it has entered a $13.8 million agreement with The Timken Company (Timken) to increase production of high-precision ball bearings at its facility in Keene, New Hampshire. Timken's high precision ball-bearings are used in defense and space-related advanced systems.