Federal Announcements

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $32 million for projects that will help build facilities that produce rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources. The funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will strengthen domestic supply chains, helping meet the growing demand for critical minerals and reduce reliance on foreign sources.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $45 million to support pilot manufacturing of solar components that can contribute to a domestic manufacturing sector capable of meeting the Administration’s solar deployment goals without relying on imported products. The funding will also support the development of new dual use solar technologies such as agrivoltaics and building-integrated photovoltaics, to create new markets for American products.

The Biden-Harris Administration released a new action plan to rapidly and equitably expand biotechnology and biomanufacturing education and job training programs in the United States.

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.

The Department of Defense's Office for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy has entered into an agreement with Arconic Corporation to increase production of missiles and munitions. The purpose of the $45.5 million agreement with Arconic is to increase production of High Purity Aluminum (HPA) at its facility in Davenport, Iowa. The low-cost production of HPA by foreign smelters has resulted in decreased production of HPA in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing more than $43 million to expand innovative uses of wood, including as a construction material in commercial buildings, as an energy source, and in manufacturing and processing input for wood products used in framing homes, making paper products and more.

The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, has awarded roughly $400,000 to each of its MEP National Network™ Centers in every state and Puerto Rico. The more than $20 million of total funding will be used to develop programs to make domestic supply chains more resilient and efficient.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $80 million in grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms to accelerate the adoption of recommendations made by DOE to improve energy efficiency to lower costs and reduce industrial emissions.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the latest 98 additions to the 205 organizations already serving as Apprenticeship Ambassadors to help the department promote and support Registered Apprenticeship opportunities nationwide.