Dive Brief:
- The Department of Energy wants to help push smart manufacturing for small- and medium-sized facilities with $22 million in new funding.
- Funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law, the money will go towards 12 state-run programs to make smart manufacturing tech and high-grade computing more accessible to small businesses.
- More than 3,500 small- and medium-sized manufacturers will get new support in accessing new technologies through training, facility assessments, apprenticeships and direct financial assistance.
Dive Insight:
12 states spearhead small- and medium-sized smart manufacturing programs
The Department of Energy has been increasingly investing in clean energy manufacturing programs as part of its Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, established last year to help accelerate the country's energy transition.
In August, the office announced $15.5 billion in funding and loans to retool factories to manufacture EVs.
Increased clean energy technology access for smaller manufacturers has been a priority for the Biden administration.
The White House has launched multiple funding opportunities aimed at this group in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act, including $80 million to improve energy efficiency in their facilities and $50 million to incentivize the adoption of smart manufacturing.
The department's manufacturing and supply chain office is also offering $750 million in grants to convert former coal mine or coal power plant sites to produce or recycle clean energy products.
