13 Organizations Will Receive $50,000 Each in Phase One of the MAKE IT Prize Strategies Track

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 13 Phase One winners of the inaugural Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize Strategies Track. The MAKE IT Prize is a multiphase, two-track competition aimed at catalyzing domestic manufacturing of critical components for the clean energy infrastructure. The Strategies Track supports communities developing roadmaps for bringing vibrant manufacturing activities to their regions. The MAKE IT Prize was developed by the DOE Office of Technology Transitions, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).

“Resilient, efficient, and diverse supply chains and domestic manufacturing capabilities are needed to scale-up clean energy solutions,” said DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan. “The MAKE IT Prize Strategies Tracks fosters growth in diverse communities through community engagement and strategic planning to ultimately draw in economic expansion through clean manufacturing.”

The Strategies Track focuses on building interest, engagement, and community involvement around manufacturing clean energy technologies while expanding the potential for more clean energy jobs and economic development, particularly in disadvantaged communities, in alignment with the White House’s Justice40 Initiative. 

Each of the 13 teams selected today will receive $50,000 and will go on to engage their communities and draft a concept roadmap in their respective regions. The teams can participate in Phase 2: Create for the chance to earn an additional $100,000, then develop a final roadmap and have discussions with manufacturers about establishing clean energy manufacturing. Successful Phase 2 competitors can continue to Phase 3: Activate, where they will wrap up the prize by obtaining commitment from at least one entity interested in establishing a clean energy manufacturing facility in the region and finalizing their roadmap.

The awarded teams include:

  • Illinois Clean Tech Economy Coalition (Chicago, Illinois): The Clean Tech Economy Coalition (CTEC) will develop a comprehensive road map to grow a grid modernization technology manufacturing cluster in the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), leveraging existing resources, and developing new partnerships and programs to drive innovation, production, and workforce capacity.
  • Project Hermes (Tulsa, Oklahoma): This project, a collaboration between PartnerTulsa, Tulsa Innovation Labs, and Rose Rock Bridge, will create a strategy for closed loop clean energy manufacturing in the region.
  • WE-MADE (Edinburg, Texas): This project will strategically bring together university professors and centers, community partners, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs to gather input and build relationships to develop and nurture a sustainable, regional entrepreneurial roadmap focusing on launching and growing new ventures on wind energy technology/device manufacturing and recycling.
  • Beatrice Nebraska Clean Energy Manufacturing (Beatrice, Nebraska): This project aims to make Beatrice, Nebraska a leader in clean energy manufacturing by developing customized business services, leveraging regional infrastructure, highlighting unique regional resources, and implementing workforce development programs to support clean energy manufacturing in Beatrice.
  • Greening the Great Plain (Lawton, Oklahoma): Windustry will work to promote sustainable energy solutions, empower communities to develop and own clean energy assets, and form partnerships to earn community, Tribal, and labor support to attract industry to create a clean energy manufacturing hub.
  • Northeast Ohio Clean Manufacturing Partnership (Cleveland, Ohio): This project will enable small and mid-sized companies to diversify and engage in clean energy manufacturing as well as attract energy storage supply chain companies to Northeast Ohio towards a vibrant regional economy.
  • NextCorps (Rochester, New York): The NextCorps Rochester Area Clean Energy Manufacturing Hub will foster clean energy technology-based economic development by leveraging and enhancing ecosystem capacity for hardware technology entrepreneurs. Collaborations fostered through this program will provide regional economic benefits by supporting clean energy entrepreneurs starting new businesses and bringing new products to market, and by repurposing unused manufacturing facilities and increasing workforce development opportunities.
  • Evansville Energy Nucleus (Evansville, Indiana): This collaborative project between Indiana’s Circular Venture Lab and the University of Evansville’s Center for Innovation and Change will provide detailed resources specific to clean energy manufacturers interested in the region and will center on census tracts in the Evansville Promise Neighborhood and other underserved communities in the region.
  • MESA NM (New Mexico): MESA NM, led by the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, will focus on three pillars - Innovation, Collaboration, and Inclusion - to drive clean energy manufacturing in the state.
  • Berkshire Innovation Center (Pittsfield, Massachusetts): The Berkshire Innovation Center serves as a catalyst to spark innovation and sustainable growth of technology-focused companies in the Berkshires and will leverage academic, industry, and government partnerships and proximity to Albany and Boston to drive clean energy manufacturing to the region.
  • Accelerating Climate Tech Solutions and Job Growth in Long Island, NY (New York City, New York): This collaboration between SecondMuse and the Manufacturing and Technology Consortium at Stony Brook University will help ease pathways to scale climate tech innovations, generate clean energy job growth in the region, and ensure that Long Island becomes a hub for climate tech manufacturing. This builds off a previous work engaging with and creating resources to improve work between manufacturers and climate tech startups.
  • White Mountain Economic Development (St. Johns, Arizona): This project is developing the Regional Energy and Educational Tech Center in St. Johns, AZ, a 25,000 sq ft facility to serve a disadvantaged, overburdened, and underserved community that is being impacted by the closure of coal fired power plants throughout the region, with an educational workforce focus that offers opportunities for clean energy companies to come to the region.
  • Pennsylvania Sustainable Business Network (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania): The Pennsylvania Sustainable Business Network (PASBN) and American Sustainable Business Institute team of business organizations, companies, and investors will work to create a larger voice and drive for innovation for sustainable manufacturing in Pennsylvania, with a focus on uplifting communities of color, minorities, and historically underrepresented people in the workforce.

Missed this opportunity? Communities interested in bringing clean energy manufacturing to their regions can still get involved! Round 2 of the Strategies Track is currently open for submissions. Submit Phase 1: Engage materials by February 15, 2024!

The MAKE IT Prize Facilities Track is still open for all competitors through February 1, 2024. This track invites U.S.-based entities with demonstrated commitment and capabilities in domestic manufacturing to complete and submit the work necessary for a shovel-ready manufacturing facility for specific clean energy technology components, including components related to hydrogen, the electric grid, long-duration energy storage, and carbon capture. Learn more and submit your Statement of Intent.