Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The Department of Energy (DOE) will host a webinar at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday about two new funding opportunities – one related to battery recycling and the other focused on smart manufacturing. To register, click here.

• The first program will provide $41 million for the second phase of $50 million in total provided by the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” for state and local government battery recycling programming. In the first phase, DOE selected battery recycling projects for negotiation that are expected to catalyze over $14.4 million in public/private investment. This second phase will boost state and local governments’ ability to support state-wide and local battery recycling programs. DOE is seeking projects in partnership with state and local governments to create new or enhance existing battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing projects, with an additional focus on awareness, education, and community benefits.
• The second program provides $22 million towards the second phase of the $50 million total State Manufacturing Leadership Program. In the first phase, DOE awarded 12 projects for states to expand or create programs that will ultimately support over 3,500 small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in implementing smart manufacturing technologies and practices, including accessing high-performance computing resources. Learn more about these 12 projects here. In this second phase, DOE aims to expand this state-led support to reach even more SMMs. DOE seeks applications that facilitate SMM access to resources such as technical assistance, training, facility assessments, apprenticeships, and direct financial assistance to implement smart manufacturing improvements. Competitive funding awards of up to $2 million per project to state entities will be made over an up-to three-year period. Applicants will be required to provide a cost share of at least 23.1 percent of the award.

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