RENO, Nevada — A new $21 million investment aims to make Reno a global leader in the lithium-ion battery industry.
Reno will be home to one of the nation’s 12 major technology hubs, funded by the Biden administration’s Creating Incentives for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Science (CHIPS) Act, which creates U.S. manufacturing jobs specifically to advance science and technology.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen toured the plant on Tuesday, which will help make the country a leader in lithium battery production.
According to Rosen, about 400 applicants applied for the tech hub designation, and only 12 innovation centers received funding, including the Lithium Loop Tech Hub in Reno.
“The goal of this initiative is to invest in communities across the United States that have something special, an asset. Here in Nevada, of course, it’s the lithium deposit, the largest in North America,” Raimondo said.
The $21 million from the federal government will be channeled through the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), which will also use the center to provide educational opportunities to its students.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the university. When we look at economic development, we’re connecting with industries, but also with the workforce in our communities,” said UNR Dean Jeff Thompson.
The 12 hubs designated for this funding were chosen in part because they are not in the few cities that have taken the lead on technology, with the goal of spreading these jobs across America and taking advantage of some of the other resources our country has to offer, like lithium.
The list of 31 finalists, 12 of whom ultimately received funding, is available here.
