RENO, NV – Last week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that Nevada is being awarded nearly $21 million in federal funding that Rosen secured for the Lithium Loop Tech Hub, which will help Nevada continue to grow as a national leader in the lithium supply chain and create thousands of good-paying jobs. This funding will support new lithium workforce initiatives, invest in STEM education, and bolster workforce opportunities, including for Native American and Indigenous students. The Tech Hubs program, authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that Senator Rosen helped pass, invests directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers.
Reno Gazette Journal: UNR-led lithium, EV initiative gets funds from $504M Tech Hubs program
By Jason Hidalgo
- Nevada’s “lithium loop” just got recharged in the latest round of funding from a federal program for technology hubs.
- The Nevada Tech Hub program, which focuses on lithium batteries and electric vehicles, was allocated $21 million by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration as part of the Biden administration’s regional Tech Hubs program. The University of Nevada, Reno, is designated as the lead agency for the Nevada Tech Hub initiative.
- The Nevada initiative was one of 12 regional programs to receive funding during the latest round. Other recipients include regional tech hubs in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida and New York.
Nevada Independent: Federal funds flow to Northern Nevada for Lithium Workforce Development
By Gabby Birenbaum
- Key Points:
- Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) were on hand in Reno on Tuesday to announce a nearly $21 million federal award for the Lithium Loop Tech Hub.
Nevada Today: Nevada Tech Hub, led by University of Nevada, Reno, awarded $21 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration
- “Northern Nevada has the potential to be a global leader in battery and electric vehicle innovation, with the University of Nevada, Reno leading the way,” said U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen. “That’s why I’m proud to have helped secure a Tech Hub designation for the Lithium Loop and have worked with President Sandoval to get millions of dollars in funding for it. I’m proud to announce that these efforts paid off and our state will receive nearly $21 million that will encourage innovation, create new economic opportunities, and transform Nevada’s economy with thousands of good-paying jobs in the lithium supply chain.”
- In October 2023, the Nevada Tech Hub was selected as one of 31 Designated Tech Hubs in regions across the country as part of Phase 1 of the new Tech Hubs Program, a flagship initiative aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in critical technologies and industries.
- “We are honored to be selected by the EDA for this elite designation and funding, empowering our education institution to become a global leader in energy technology,” University President Brian Sandoval said. “With the funding we received today from the EDA, combined with the generous funding from the Nevada State Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee, we will invest in targeted and aggressive business creation, attraction, retention and expansion efforts designed to close identified gaps in this emerging industry sector across our state. I wish to thank Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Cortez Masto, Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee for their leadership and continued support of our Tech Hub initiative that will evoke a generational shift in the economic future of Nevada.”
KRNV Reno: Sen. Rosen, U.S. Secretary of Commerce announce $21 million for tech hub in Reno
Reporter: “Reno will be home to one of 12 leading tech hubs in the nation funded by the Biden administration’s Chips and Science Act, which creates American manufacturing jobs specifically to advance science and technology.”
Senator Rosen: “It spurs our entire community. 99 percent of businesses in Nevada are small businesses. It matters.”
Reporter: “U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo and Senator Jacky Rosen toured the facility Tuesday, which will help lead the nation in lithium battery production. According to Rosen, there were around 400 applicants for this Tech Hub designation, which was ultimately near down to just 12 innovation centers, including the Lithium Loop Tech Hub in Reno.”
KRXI Reno: Sen. Rosen, U.S. Secretary of Commerce announce $21 million for tech hub in Reno
Reporter: “A new $21 million investment aims to make Reno a global leader in the lithium battery industry. The Lithium Loop Tech Hub will create thousands of jobs, and, according to Senator Jacky Rosen, it’ll be a part of the University of Nevada-Reno, providing educational opportunities for students there. And with the state having the largest lithium deposit in North America, the new hub will focus on the natural resources to create batteries used in electric cars and other green energy technologies.”
[…]
Reporter: “Well, Senator Rosen said there were around 400 applicants for this tech hub designation, which was ultimately narrowed down to just 12 innovation centers.”
KTVN Reno: Nevada Tech Hub gets $21M to Support Lithium-Ion Battery Production
Anchor: “Senator Jacky Rosen was also there for the announcement today.”
Anchor: “She said that she hopes to see the money support not just lithium-related companies, but also small businesses that will benefit from regional growth and infrastructure improvements.”
KOLO Reno: $21 million coming to Nevada’s ‘Lithium Loop’ tech hub
Reporter: “The state of Nevada is currently the only place in the country where Lithium is extracted, processed, and later recycled, which has resulted in our area earning the nickname the ‘lithium loop.’”
[…]
Senator Rosen: “So proud to announce, right here in this moment, that we were able to secure nearly $21 million for Nevada’s Lithium Loop Tech Hub.”
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