$1B Build Back Better Regional Challenge Awardees

The Accelerate NC – Life Sciences Manufacturing coalition, led by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, received $25 million to strengthen its life sciences manufacturing cluster by investing in a more robust pipeline of biotech talent across the state and expanding those opportunities to underserved and historically excluded communities.

The Alaska Mariculture Cluster, led by Southeast Conference, received $49 million to catalyze a sustainable mariculture industry, producing shellfish and seaweed for the long-term benefit of Alaska’s economy, environment, and communities.

The Appalachian Climate Technology coalition (ACT Now), led by Coalfield Development Corporation, received $62.8 million to spur job growth in 21 economically distressed and coal-impacted counties in southern West Virginia by creating a hub of clean energy and green economy jobs.

BioFabrication Cluster (New Hampshire)
The BioFabrication Cluster, led by the City of Manchester, received $44 million to establish Southern New Hampshire as the global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative tissues and organs.

Building Central Florida’s Semiconductor Cluster for Broad-Based Prosperity coalition, led by the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners, received $50.8 million to accelerate the growth of the specialized semiconductor cluster at NeoCITY, a 5,000-area technology park developed in partnership with the state of Florida.

Farms Food Future (F3) (California)
The Farms Food Future (F3) coalition, led by the Central Valley Community Foundation, received $65.1 million to accelerate the integration of technology and skills in the region’s agriculture industry—improving productivity and job quality for existing farmworkers while driving a more resilient and sustainable food system.

The Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing coalition, led by the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, received $65 million to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across the state’s legacy industrial sectors.

The Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) coalition, led by the Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation, received $52.2 million to transform the Detroit area’s legacy automotive industry into a highly competitive advanced mobility cluster.

The H2theFuture coalition, led by the Greater New Orleans Development Foundation, received $50 million to transition the regional hydrogen energy sector by closing the cost gap between green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, and other forms of hydrogen used today, which rely on fossil fuels.

The Heartland Robotics Cluster, led by the Invest Nebraska Corporation, received $25 million to accelerate Nebraska’s leadership in the agricultural industry through robotic technologies and advanced manufacturing automation while also revitalizing the region’s rural labor force and strengthening the nation’s food supply chain.

The Mountain | Plains Regional Native CDFI Coalition, led by the Four Bands Community Fund, received $45 million to accelerate the growth of the Indigenous finance sector and expand economic opportunity in Native American communities through an alliance of nine Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

New Energy New York, a coalition led by the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, received $63.7 million to accelerate innovation in battery technology and to transform New York’s Southern Tier into a global hub of energy storage manufacturing.

Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster (Oklahoma)
The Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster, led by the Oklahoma City Economic Development Foundation, received $35 million to rapidly expand its biotechnology cluster, bolstering domestic resiliency within the biopharmaceutical supply chain and making the cluster more globally competitive.

Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (Oregon)
The Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, led by the Port of Portland, received $41.4 million to become a national leader in using mass timber to accelerate affordable housing production, provide good jobs, and restore forest health.

The South Kansas Coalition, led by Wichita State University (WSU), received $51.4 million to strengthen the United States’ competitive advantage and global market share in aerospace production.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) New Economy Collaborative, a coalition of the region’s leading university, philanthropic, and private sector leaders, received $62.7 million to supercharge SWPA’s globally recognized robotics and autonomy cluster and ensure that its economic benefits equitably reach rural and coal-impacted communities in the 11-county region.

The St. Louis Tech Triangle coalition, led by Greater St. Louis, Inc., received $25 million to converge the region’s three leading industry clusters of biosciences, geospatial, and advanced manufacturing, and build a national model for inclusive economic growth.

The Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster, led by the Indian Nations Council of Governments, received $39 million to transition the region from its legacy of oil and gas and traditional manufacturing to advanced mobility, automation, and unmanned aerial systems.

Western New York's Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, led by the Empire State Development Corporation, received $25 million to invest in the distressed eastern side of Buffalo, NY and accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the region.

The West Texas Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing coalition, led by the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), received $40 million to strengthen America's aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities by integrating legacy manufacturers in West Texas into the aerospace and defense (A&D) supply chain.