Biden-Harris Administration Designates Tech Hub in Brunswick, Maine to Advance the Biomaterial Production and Manufacturing Sector

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced that the Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub in Brunswick, Maine, was designated as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in regions across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors.

The Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub, a consortium led by the Maine Technology Institute, will accelerate the development and deployment of natural polymers and products that can displace plastics, sequester carbon, and replace toxic chemicals while bolstering U.S. supply chain resilience.

This designation is part of the first phase of the novel Tech Hubs program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, that will invest directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aim to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. Designation is an endorsement of the region’s strategy to supercharge their respective technological industry to create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security. Designated Tech Hubs are now eligible to apply for the next phase of the Tech Hubs Program that will invest between $50-$75 million in each of 5-10 Designated Hubs.

In addition to a Tech Hubs Designation, EDA announced today that the Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub was also awarded a Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant that will help the consortium increase local coordination and planning activities to strengthen its region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st century job opportunities in people’s backyards,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Each of these consortia will help us ensure the industries of the future—and their good-paying jobs—start, grow, and remain in the United States.”

“These outstanding consortia exemplify place-based economic development strategies at their best: combining federal resources with regional assets, expertise, and coalitions to implement transformational opportunities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “As each region develops its own strategy to catalyze innovation and job creation, the entire nation grows more secure and more competitive.”

“Maine’s forest products sector is a key part of our state’s heritage and a cornerstone of our economic future. This exciting designation signifies to the world that Maine is a global leader in developing and manufacturing climate-friendly, sustainable products that create jobs and strengthen the U.S. supply chain,” said Maine Governor Janet Mills. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for its continued support of Maine manufacturing, and I thank U.S. Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden for supporting the CHIPS and Sciences Act that made this designation possible.”

“Maine’s forest products industry and spirit of innovation have each been major contributors to our state’s history, culture, and economic success,” said Maine Senator Angus King. “This new announcement from the Biden Administration designating the Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub as a key hub for rapid growth is clear proof that Maine continues to lead the way in supply chain resiliency and good-paying jobs. The CHIPS for America Act is making massive investments and improvements in the domestic production and development of technologies critical to our national security and economy—how exciting that Maine is paving the way for this new path of America’s industrial might.”

“When the CHIPS and Science Act passed last Congress, we sent a message to the world that America values domestic innovation and manufacturing. That message is being realized as the Biden Administration establishes Tech Hubs across the nation to supercharge and strengthen economic opportunity in our communities and work towards a more sustainable supply chain,” said Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-01). “As the most forested state in the nation, Maine’s centuries-old forest products industry is a critically important part of our state’s economy and way of life. This industry is prime for the exponential growth and innovation the Biden Administration’s Tech Hubs program epitomizes. I am thrilled to see the Biden Administration invest in this critical work in Maine and recognize the immense potential for the forest bioproducts industry to be a key part of the climate solution.”

The 31 Tech Hubs were selected from 198 applications from regional consortia that include industry, academia, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners. The Tech Hubs span regions across 32 states and Puerto Rico and represent a cross section of urban and rural regions.

For a full list of Tech Hubs, visit TechHubs.gov.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.