Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program Awards Approximately $19 Million to the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub in Florida to Strengthen the Region’s Capacity as a Global Leader in Clean Energy

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), has announced that it is slated to award approximately $19 million to the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub, a consortium led by Miami Dade County Innovation and Economic Development Office in Florida, to implement three projects that will bolster the region’s ability to scale up the production and delivery of critical technologies that will strengthen America’s clean energy transition.

In October 2023, South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub was selected as one of 31 Designated Tech Hubs in regions across the country as part of Phase 1 of the new Tech Hubs Program, a flagship initiative aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in critical technologies and industries. The designation is a strong endorsement of the consortium’s regional plan to supercharge its respective critical technology ecosystem and become a global leader over the next decade.

“Every American deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live. Today’s announcement that the Department of Commerce is investing $504 million in Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs across the country will ensure that the benefits of the industries of the future – from artificial intelligence and clean energy, to biotechnology and more – are shared with communities that have been overlooked for far too long, including rural, Tribal, industrial, and disadvantaged communities,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “These Tech Hubs will give regions across our nation the resources and opportunities necessary to lead in the economy of tomorrow while creating good-paying jobs for American workers.”

“President Biden has been clear that you shouldn’t have to move to one of a handful of cities to get a good-paying job in tech. Now, thanks to the Tech Hubs program, we’re making good on that sentiment by expanding America’s innovation ecosystem and creating economic opportunity in new technology sectors all over the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to President Biden’s commitment to his Investing in America agenda, the South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub and the other Tech Hub awardees will play a critical role in accelerating America’s leadership in the industries of the future, all while creating high quality, family-sustaining 21st century jobs in people’s backyards.”

As one of 12 Tech Hub Designees selected for implementation funding, the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub will leverage this award to support projects that are:

• Scaling advanced concrete technologies made with reduced emissions that protect environments in low-lying areas, specifically focusing on communities most affected by extreme weather events; 
• Establishing workforce development programs that offer career pathways to diverse groups through certifications, training, and apprenticeships, supplemented with wraparound services; and
• Dismantling silos within the climate and capital ecosystem to foster collaboration among government, climate justice advocates, startups, corporations, capital partners, and academia. 

The final grant amount will be finalized in the coming months.

The South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub aims to advance its global leadership in sustainable and resilient infrastructure (SRI) solutions for the global climate crisis. Building off the region’s unique combination of resources such as its coastal and marine infrastructure, cluster of clean cement and energy efficiency building industries, and academic and research institutions, this Tech Hub will jumpstart SRI innovation by developing, commercializing, and scaling SRI technologies, focused on climate adaptation and mitigation. The South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub seeks to advance community-level climate outcomes with a focus on bringing clean cement and concrete to market. (Click here to learn more about the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub)

“The Department of Commerce is laser focused on expanding economic opportunity to every corner of this country,” said Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves. “The Tech Hubs program is a commitment to American economic prosperity and success. These 12 awardees embody the innovation and creativity that can be found nationwide, boosting U.S. manufacturing and bolstering U.S. global competitiveness, bringing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to the forefront.”

“The 31 Tech Hubs Designees 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. “We’re excited to see this initial round of implementation funding supporting a surge of new jobs, new technologies, and new energy to bolster America’s competitiveness.”

“I commend the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration for awarding $19 million to the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub,” said Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). “This crucial investment will bolster South Florida’s capacity to lead in the clean energy sector, enhance our climate security, and create high-quality, sustainable jobs for our community. This initiative is a testament to the Administration’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis, while promoting economic prosperity and equity.”

“President Biden is keeping his promise to invest in clean, climate-resilient technology across our country,” said Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22). “The South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub will bring good-paying jobs and workforce development programs to the area, strengthening our economy while modernizing our infrastructure to confront the climate crisis.”

“South Florida remains at the forefront of the climate crisis, and I am proud of the Biden-Harris Administration’s investment in the region through the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub,” said Representative Frederica Wilson (FL-24). “These tech hubs are crucial in combating the escalating threat of climate change, creating jobs, fostering research, and strengthening South Florida’s infrastructure. We have witnessed the impacts of rising sea levels and extreme weather events firsthand, and this tech hub is a significant step toward mitigating climate change’s effects while simultaneously boosting our economy.”

The Tech Hubs Program was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which he signed into law in August 2022. The statute authorized $10 billion for the program over five years. To date, EDA has been appropriated $541 million for the program.

The United States is the global leader in research and development, and the Tech Hubs Program is designed to increase the capacity and pace with which Americans make, deliver, and deploy innovative technologies, creating new, growing companies and new, good jobs.

Read more about the Tech Hubs program at 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.