Biden-Harris Administration Awards Planning Grant to Strengthen Aerospace, Medical, and Clean Energy Sectors in Connecticut and Rhode Island

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced that Model-Based Enterprise Tech Strategy Development Consortium in Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant to scale the adoption of Model-Based Definition in the commercial manufacturing sectors of aerospace, medical devices, and clean energy.

The Model-Based Enterprise Tech Strategy Development Consortium, a consortium led by State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, will leverage the grant to increase local coordination and planning activities to strengthen its region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technologies critical to U.S. economic and national security. The Tech Hubs Program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, is investing in U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. This consortium was selected for a grant from a competitive pool of 181 applications.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st century job opportunities in people’s backyards,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Each of these consortia will help us ensure the industries of the future—and their good-paying jobs—start, grow, and remain in the United States.”

“These outstanding consortia exemplify place-based economic development strategies at their best: combining federal resources with regional assets, expertise, and coalitions to implement transformational opportunities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “As each region develops its own strategy to catalyze innovation and job creation, the entire nation grows more secure and more competitive.”

“The manufacturing industry in Connecticut and Rhode Island is a substantial economic driver, and a big reason for our success is the strength of the companies in our supply chain and the dynamic ecosystem that has evolved here,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. “This Tech Hub Strategy Development Grant will allow Connecticut and Rhode Island to build upon our shared success to date, bringing important technological advancements we’ve already adopted in defense into the commercial sector. This will generate wide-ranging economic benefits to both states and the region as a whole.”

“Connecticut manufacturers are building cutting edge technologies, and I’m thrilled that our state has been selected to participate in the Tech Hubs Program. This funding from the CHIPS and Science Act is going to create and sustain thousands of good-paying jobs and foster innovation in the aerospace, medical device, and clean energy industries. This distinction ensures Connecticut will continue to play a pivotal role in strengthening national security and maintaining America’s competitive edge,” said Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.

“I worked with my colleagues in Congress to strengthen the domestic supply chain and invest in good-paying American manufacturing jobs by passing the CHIPS and Science Act,” said Representative John B. Larson (CT-01). “This grant is a critical investment in our state’s growing manufacturing base, and will set the stage to establish Connecticut as a Tech Hub for research, development, and innovation for some of the most in-demand industries.”

“The CHIPS and Science Act made critical investments to improve the technology competitiveness of the United States on the world stage. The Tech Hubs Program grant will help strengthen our national security and grow the U.S. economy by creating good paying jobs in Connecticut and across the region,” said Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05).

For a full list of Tech Hubs, visit TechHubs.gov.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.