Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program Awards Approximately $51 Million to the iFAB Tech Hub in Illinois to Strengthen the Region’s Capacity as a Global Leader in Precision Fermentation and Biomanufacturing

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 $51 million to the iFAB Tech Hub, a consortium led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to implement four projects that will bolster the region’s ability to scale up the production and delivery of critical technologies that will advance food and industrial applications of biotechnology.

 In October 2023, the iFAB 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 iFAB 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 iFAB Tech Hub will leverage this award to support projects that are:

• Upgrading and expanding existing facilities to allow for more companies to commercialize precision fermentation technologies and increase production capacity;  
• Sharing equipment, expanding capital access, and contracting research organizations to attract global companies to the region and to foster and retain home-grown entrepreneurs; and
• Designing and implementing sector-specific training across skill levels for incumbent employees, out-of-school youth, and other underrepresented constituencies in the biomanufacturing workforce.

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

The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (iFAB Tech Hub) seeks to scale precision fermentation to convert underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value, customized alternative proteins, food ingredients, materials, chemicals, and more. By leveraging its regional assets in corn and soy feedstocks, food processing infrastructure, and research leadership, this Tech Hub will provide a domestic biomanufacturing testbed through the development and deployment of multi-use pilot and demonstration capacity and equipment for biomanufacturing innovators, while also training a skilled workforce. The iFAB Tech Hub seeks to advance fermentation technology by making it possible to create zero-emission, high-value products from agricultural commodities. (Click here to learn more about the iFAB 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.”

“With today’s news, Illinois will remain a global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing – especially in critical fields like food and agriculture – and will stimulate local economies, and improve food security for decades to come,” said Illinois Senator Dick Durbin. “I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for their innovative CHIPS and Science Act, and for establishing the Tech Hubs program.  I look forward to seeing all iFAB can achieve for future generations.”

“I’m so pleased iFAB is receiving this critical Tech Hub funding, unlocking innovation, investment and job creation for years to come,” said Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth. “Illinois is already a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned for these Tech Hub awards. I was proud to help pass the CHIPS and Science Act, and I’m thrilled that with programs like iFAB we’re making it clear our state has the projects and innovation ready to harness the law’s new investments and help bring our state, nation and world into the future.”

“I am thrilled that the iFAB Tech Hub, led by the University of Illinois, will receive $51 million from the Biden-Harris Administration to continue advancing precision fermentation and biomanufacturing,” said Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02). “Every region of America offers unique resources, and the iFAB Tech Hub leverages Illinois’ assets in corn and soy to serve the community. This well-deserved funding will contribute to critical projects, which includes sector-specific job training for all skill levels. By investing in the region’s agriculture, we lift up American workers, create new jobs, and support economic development in historically neglected communities.”

“The $51 million federal investment in the iFAB Tech Hub is a game changer for Central Illinois,” said Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13). “For years, our region has been leading the nation in groundbreaking agricultural research. The funding announced today will build on that foundation with explosive economic growth and place Decatur, Monticello and Champaign at the center of a booming bioeconomy. I’ve been proud to push for these resources and I couldn’t be more excited to see our area's unique potential unlocked with this historic investment.”

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.