Article:
As part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has revealed the designation of 31 Tech Hubs in regions across the country. This initiative, known as the Tech Hubs program, aims to boost regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region's capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technology.

Authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act and signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, the Tech Hubs program is a crucial component of the administration's agenda to enhance American competitiveness. The designated Tech Hubs are located in 32 states, including Puerto Rico, and represent a diverse range of urban and rural regions.

By endorsing these regions' plans to foster technological industries, the designation as Tech Hubs demonstrates a commitment to creating jobs, strengthening U.S. competitiveness, and safeguarding national security. The Tech Hubs announced cover various industries, including autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotechnology, precision medicine, clean energy advancement, and semiconductor manufacturing.

To further support the development of these Tech Hubs, the EDA has awarded 29 Strategy Development Grants (SDG) to enable communities to enhance local coordination and planning activities. These grants will help the selected recipients become more competitive for future funding opportunities related to the Tech Hubs program.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized that the Tech Hubs Program is crucial to empowering the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Raimondo explained that the program will unleash cutting-edge technological investments and create job opportunities in people's backyards, aligning with President Biden's Investing in America agenda.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves highlighted the importance of the Tech Hubs program in boosting U.S. manufacturing, creating more jobs, and bolstering U.S. global competitiveness. Graves emphasized that these designated Tech Hubs in phase 1 reflect the diverse technological industries growing in America and represent symbols of American innovation and opportunity.

Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard stated that President Biden's Tech Hubs program will drive technological advances in communities across the country, establishing foundations for future centers of world-class innovation, manufacturing, and good-paying jobs.

The winners of phase 1 of the Tech Hubs program were selected from nearly 400 applications submitted by regional consortia consisting of industry, academia, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners. Each consortium presented detailed plans for enhancing their region's capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies.

The Department of Commerce has also announced the launch of a second Tech Hubs Notice of Funding Opportunity, allowing the designated Tech Hubs to apply for implementation funding. The selected Tech Hubs will have the opportunity to receive between $40 million and $70 million each, totaling nearly $500 million.

The Tech Hubs program signifies the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to promoting innovation and economic growth in every corner of the United States. By investing directly in regions with high potential, the program aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers, ensuring that the industries of the future, along with their well-paying jobs, start, grow, and remain in the United States.

In summary, the designation of 31 Tech Hubs across the United States demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration's dedication to driving regional innovation, job creation, and bolstering American competitiveness. By investing in cutting-edge technological advancements, the Tech Hubs program aims to secure a prosperous future for the nation.