GTC 360° Advisors is proud to announce wins of the highly competitive Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Tech Hubs grant program, which include a Tech Hub Designation for the Elevate Quantum Colorado Consortium and a Tech Hub Strategy Development grant on behalf of the Utah Advanced Manufacturing of Critical Materials Consortium. GTC 360° Advisors, in collaboration with Delivery Associates and through the support of the Community Funding Accelerator, provided full scope grant writing, grant strategy, and consortium development for the Elevate Quantum Colorado consortium, and we provided grant strategy and consortium development for the Critical Materials Consortium.
Elevate Quantum’s pioneering initiative is dedicated to advancing and solidifying the region’s global leadership in quantum information technology (QIT) by increasing infrastructure resilience and strengthening the quantum hardware supply chain. Select strategies include establishing a multi-modal open-access quantum laboratory to fuel start-up growth, helping quantum startups scale into global leaders, and investing in workforce development and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIAB), with the goal of helping 30,000 workers develop new skills for quantum jobs through equitable access to the industry. GTC 360° Advisors helped Elevate Quantum build its consortium to over 70 organizations, including 17 Companies/industry groups; 13 institutions of higher education; numerous K-12 partners; 17 economic development organizations/VCs; 14 labor and workforce organizations; four state and local governments; and seven others including five Federal Labs spanning three states: Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. With EDA Tech Hub Designation, Elevate Quantum is well-positioned to advance America’s global competitiveness in QIT.
Utah’s Advanced Manufacturing of Critical Materials is also leading a vital initiative to bolster the domestic critical materials supply chain. This consortium will develop a robust regional strategy to advance the production and manufacturing of critical materials needed for clean energy technologies, building out and strengthening the domestic supply chain of these materials that are the essential ingredients for batteries and beyond. A secure domestic critical materials supply chain is essential to bolstering the U.S. economy and ensuring national security.
Both selections were highly competitive. The EDA received approximately 400 overall applications, including 197 designation applicants, ultimately designating 31 (15.7%). Out of 181 applications for Strategy Development grants, 29 were awarded (16%).
The Tech Hubs Designation is the EDA’s strong endorsement of a region’s plan to quickly advance a critical technology over the next 10 years. Designee awardees will apply for Phase 2 Implementation grants, with awards of $50 to $75 million. Strategy Development grants awardees will further develop their technology-based regional economic development strategies.
Wendy Lea, co-founder and partner of Colorado’s Tech Hub Now!, the statewide coalition that selected Elevate Quantum as a state of Colorado-supported application, said that “TechHubNow! was honored to collaborate with George Tagg, Jr. and his consulting team from GTC 360° Advisors during Phase 1 of the EDA Tech Hubs grant process. Much of the State of Colorado’s success in being awarded the designation by EDA as a Quantum tech hub was down to GTC 360° Advisors’ deep knowledge of EDA grants and their specific expertise in the CHIPS & science legislation and the regional innovation hub program. They helped us understand the nuances of the grant and kept our ‘eye on the prize’ for the designation. We’re excited about working with them in Phase 2.”
The EDA Tech Hubs program aims to invest directly in regions with the potential to become globally competitive innovation centers over the next 10 years, simultaneously catalyzing equitable and inclusive job opportunities for American workers at all skill levels. At GTC 360° Advisors, we believe in the importance of incorporating comprehensive career pathway strategies from K-18 onwards to ensure long-term sustainability in economic development. GTC 360° Advisors looks forward to advancing U.S. innovation and technology in Phase 2!
