FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

TO EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 

ACROSS AMERICA

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the Economic Development 

Administration (EDA) is launching a transformational new program that will continue the 

Biden-Harris Administration’s work to strengthen U.S. supply chains, create good-paying 

jobs, and expand economic opportunity across America. The Regional Technology 

and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) Program will strengthen U.S. national and economic 

security by developing clusters of businesses, communities, colleges and universities, 

and workers focused on accelerating innovation and technology deployment 

throughout the country. 

This new Program follows EDA’s successful implementation of the Build Back Better 

Regional Challenge and the Good Jobs Challenge, and will continue EDA’s work to invest 

in American workers and place-based economic development. 

Through these programs and investments, we’re making sure the supply chain for 

America begins in America. We’re bringing manufacturing and innovation back, creating 

good-paying jobs—many that don’t require a four-year degree—and revitalizing 

communities and small businesses so that no community is left out or left behind.

The Tech Hubs Program was authorized as part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, 

one of the critical drivers of President Biden’s work to invest in American manufacturing. 

In December 2022, President Biden signed the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act 

into law, funding $500 million for the Tech Hubs Program.

TECH HUBS PROGRAM LAUNCH FACT SHEET

U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

“Today represents 

a more secure 

economy, jobs, 

and a stronger 

future for our 

nation. America 

is delivering.”

PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN

ON THE PASSAGE OF 

THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT

UNDERSTANDING THE PROGRAM

The Tech Hubs Program seeks to strengthen U.S. economic and national security by 

ensuring the industries of the future—and their good jobs—start, grow, and remain 

in the United States. The Tech Hubs Program will make place-based investments 

in regions with the assets, resources, capacity, and potential to become globally 

competitive, within a reasonable period of time, in critical technologies and industries. 

EDA will run this competition with a focus on geographic diversity and equity.

Successful proposals will demonstrate a region’s capabilities in, and focus on, its 

primary technological strength, and its potential for Tech Hubs investments to enable 

the region to become the global leader in that critical technology area within a decade.

UPDATED AS OF MAY 12, 2023

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more about the 

Tech Hubs

Program!

LEARN MORE ATEDA.GOV
TECH HUBS PROGRAM LAUNCH FACT SHEET 2

HOW WILL FUNDING BE ALLOCATED?

The Program provides for two funding opportunities. The first phase of awards will 

designate promising Tech Hubs across America and provide strategy development 

awards to accelerate their development—applicants choose to apply for one or both of 

designation and a strategy development award. A second phase will provide significant 

strategy implementation awards to help Tech Hubs reach their full potential.

PHASE 1: Designating Tech Hubs

EDA expects to designate at least 20 Tech Hubs across the country and make a 

commensurate amount of strategy development awards utilizing approximately 

$15 million of the $500 million available. The Tech Hubs designation will be a widelyrecognized indicator of a region’s potential for rapid economic growth. The designated 

Tech Hubs will be invited to apply for Phase 2.

PHASE 2: Supporting Implementation

EDA expects to make at least 5 implementation awards with the remaining available 

funding to designated Tech Hubs. Contingent on future funding levels, EDA aims 

to invest in more Hubs to expand the Program’s portfolio of technologies and places 

and may make follow-on investments in successful Hubs with opportunities for 

additional impact.

WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO APPLY?

PHASE 1:

Early May 2023 with a 3-month application window

PHASE 2: 

Announcement of designations and Phase 2 application window 

open by the end of Fall 2023

While EDA will consider a variety of factors, generally, successful applicants in Phase 1 

will demonstrate they have resources, capability, coordination, and vision to become 

a Tech Hub grounded in their selected core technology area within the ten key 

technology focus areas set out in the Tech Hubs statute. Given the Program’s goals, 

applicants in Phase 1 will primarily be measured on their articulation of the alignment 

of the region’s existing assets, potential, and overall strategy with its opportunity to 

become the global leader in its technology area.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

For the Tech Hubs Program, only consortia are eligible, and each consortium 

has certain required and optional entity types. 

EDA defines a Hub’s geography as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or a similar area 

(including Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs) or tightly interconnected combinations 

of MSAs and/or μSAs) with a concentration of assets, capital, R&D, labor market, and 

infrastructure strongly relevant to the Hub’s selected core technology area, the Hub’s 

identified market opportunity, and its potential to become globally competitive in that 

area within a decade. Applicants should identify their chosen geography as part of their 

application. Consortia may include assets or members outside the chosen geography—

e.g., in nonmetro rural areas or partnerships with geographically distant but tightly 

mission-aligned organizations—that support the consortia’s strategy and benefit the Hub.

HOW WILL 

APPLICANTS ENGAGE 

UNDERSERVED AND 

UNDERREPRESENTED 

COMMUNITIES AND 

POPULATIONS? 

EDA’s suite of programs 

serves the whole spectrum of 

U.S. economies and enables 

growth through both targeted, 

point-in-time investments 

that unlock immediate 

opportunities and strategic, 

long-term investments that 

seek to create self-sustaining 

regional growth.

The Tech Hubs Program aims 

to increase the diversity of 

the U.S. innovation economy. 

Economic research clearly 

shows increasing the diversity of 

inventors, students, researchers, 

funders, and founders increases 

the pace of innovation, which 

in turn supports good jobs, 

stronger supply chains, and 

new technologies, like clean 

technology. Throughout 

both phases of the Program, 

successful applicants will pursue 

specific, impactful diversity 

and inclusion strategies that 

accelerate innovation and 

growth and that increase the 

equity, accessibility, and diversity 

of the innovation economy, 

including through accessible, 

good jobs. EDA will also include 

a focus on geographic diversity, 

throughout the continuum of 

rural and urban areas.

Visit EDA.gov to learn more about the Tech Hubs Program and sign up for EDA’s 

communications. If you have questions, please reach out to TechHubs@eda.gov.

Scan to 

learn more 

about the 

Tech Hubs 

Program!