WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) intends to award $169 million across six selected Tech Hubs to advance U.S. leadership in industries essential to our economic competitiveness and national security.

These projects are part of EDA’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program, which serves as a key investment in this Administration’s America First agenda, investing in regions with the talent and assets to become global leaders in the critical technologies of the future.

The selected Tech Hubs are:

Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Tech Hub (Virginia) 
$16 million to develop and scale advanced, AI-enabled domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

Bloch Quantum Tech Hub (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin) 
$30 million to scale U.S. production of quantum materials, components, and subsystems. 

Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub (Missouri) 
$38 million to boost the region’s ability to convert locally sourced minerals into critical materials essential for advanced manufacturing. 

Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub (Maine)
$20 million to unite state, university, industry, and workforce partners to strengthen domestic supply chains for sustainable forest‑based technologies. 

Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub (Idaho, Wyoming) 
$31 million to accelerate reactor deployment, speed commercialization of next-generation reactors, and enhance U.S. energy security. 

Kansas City BioSecure Manufacturing Tech Hub (Kansas, Missouri) 
$34 million to modernize manufacturing processes, strengthen and retool domestic supply chains, and accelerate the translation of biologic discoveries into scalable, resilient, and agile U.S. production.  

The Maine Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub aims to:

• Accelerate commercialization of advanced forest bioproducts and strengthen Maine’s forest economy.
• Expand commercial-scale production of next-generation forest products.
• Support companies converting low-value wood into innovative products with national significance.
• Advance three key areas of forest innovation, including: Advanced construction systems, advanced packaging materials, alternative aviation fuels.
• Strengthen domestic supply chains by using locally sourced forest resources to reduce reliance on foreign materials.
• Help companies move new technologies from development to market by providing access to testing, piloting, funding and business support.
• Expand forest products manufacturing infrastructure and support growth of advanced manufacturing capabilities.
• Develop a skilled workforce through apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and training programs focused on advanced manufacturing and construction.
• Support entrepreneurship and investment through grants, vouchers, export assistance and market development programs.
• Position Maine as a global leader in advanced forest biomaterials, sustainable manufacturing and forest-based innovation.

“The Tech Hub’s strategy represents a coordinated, employer-led approach to workforce development that will strengthen Maine’s competitiveness in the forest bioproducts industry,” said Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor. “Under the State Workforce Development Board’s leadership, this effort will scale registered apprenticeships — in coordination with industry, education, labor, and community partners — to build the skilled workforce needed for adopting smart manufacturing technologies and create clear pathways into good-paying jobs here in Maine.”