Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  *U.S. Economic Development Administration*
    Menu
    
Close
          


                                      Our Work & ProgramsEDA Program ListSuccess StoriesAmerican Rescue PlanTech HubsRecompete Pilot ProgramDisaster RecoveryPublic WorksBuild to ScaleSTEM Talent ChallengePartner InitiativesAnnual ReportsInvestment Priorities    
                        
                                                                          
      
      
      Find Open FundingFind FundingRecompete Pilot Program Phase 2Disaster RecoveryPublic WorksEconomic Adjustment Assistance    
                        
                                                                          
      
      
      Resources & ToolsFind Grant ResourcesManaging Your EDA GrantEconomic Development DirectoryTribal Community SupportPerformanceEDA Grant History ListIndirect Costs    
                        
                                                                          
      
      
      NewsPress ReleasesEDA BlogNews ListingMedia Request Form    
                        
                                                                          
      
      
      AboutAbout EDALeadershipFind local EDA RepresentativeCareersSpeaking Request FormMeeting Request FormTranslate


                Contact
              mobile search
    Search BreadcrumbHomeNews Listing In this section
              Press Releases
      
                                
                                        
        
        
        EDA Blog
      
                                
                                                                    
        
        
        News Listing
      
                                
                                        
        
        
        Media Request FormPress Release
                                September 19, 2023
                                
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $4.5 Million in STEM Workforce Training Efforts Across the Country
                                
Latest Department of Commerce Investments Help Bolster STEM Workforces in Technology Innovation Sectors
                                Share:
                                Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, [email protected]
                    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the 11 recipients of the 2023 STEM Talent Challenge, a national competition overseen by the EDA that supports programs to train science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent and fuel regional innovation economies across the nation. Making smart investments in American workers and workforce pipelines, like these awards, is a fundamental part of President Biden’s economic plan, Bidenomics.

The $4.5 million competition provides up to $500,000 in funding for programs that complement their region’s innovation economy, create pathways to good-paying STEM careers, and build talent pipelines for businesses to fill in-demand jobs in emerging and transformative sectors.

“As part of the Biden Administration's commitment to investing in America, we are making sure workers have access to the skills and training they need to get good-paying jobs in growing STEM industries,” **said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.** “Through the STEM Talent Challenge program, we're making substantial investments in communities across the country to encourage innovation, create opportunities, and build local workforce pipelines in everything from semiconductor manufacturing to AI development."

“The STEM Talent Challenge helps communities leverage their greatest asset – people,” **said Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.** “We are thrilled to partner with these 11 grant recipients to strengthen training programs and apprenticeship opportunities that will ensure that individuals can build careers in STEM fields in their communities. This program builds on EDA’s mission of seeding the emerging and critical industries of tomorrow, and ensuring that we are strengthening a workforce that can propel these sectors to success.”

The 11 awardees, selected from a pool of 90 applicants, will leverage an additional $4.7 million in matching funds from a variety of private and public sector sources. The grantees’ projects support work-and-learn programs to increase America’s STEM-capable workforce in the emerging and transformative sectors such as aerospace, biomanufacturing, cybersecurity, data science, geospatial, artificial intelligence, information technology, and advanced manufacturing.

The STEM Talent Challenge grant recipients are:

**Austin Community College District** (Austin, Texas)**Project:** STARS Training Program (Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start)**Grant Amount:** $364,548

**Bowling Green State University** (Bowling Green, Ohio)**Project:** Advancing Regional Talent in Smart Technology Enabled Manufacturing**Grant Amount:** $332,828

**CodePath** (Atlanta, Georgia)**Project:** Pathway to Tech in Atlanta**Grant Amount:** $500,000

**Electrical Training Institute** (San Diego, California)**Project:** Resilience in a STEM Economy (RISE) Program**Grant Amount:** $496,693

**Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas** (Kansas City, Missouri)**Project:** Bridge to Technology and Careers in Greater Kansas City**Grant Amount:** $499,196

**Liberty Science Center** (Jersey City, New Jersey)**Project:** High Schools of the Future**Grant Amount:** $500,000

**Middlesex Community College** (Lowell, Massachusetts)**Project:** Industry-Integrated Computer Aided Design Expansion Program**Grant Amount:** $409,410

**St. Petersburg College** (St. Petersburg, Florida)**Project:** Geospatial/Artificial Intelligence (AI) STEM Training Program (GSTP)**Grant Amount:** $323,832

**South Texas College** (McAllen, Texas)**Project:** STEM Registered Apprenticeship Program**Grant Amount:** $283,262

**University of Arkansas System** (Fayetteville, Arkansas)**Project:** BioAR Train Biomanufacturing Workforce Initiative (BTBWI)**Grant Amount:** $493,521

**Washington State University** (Pullman, Washington)**Project:** Washington's High-Demand Advanced Civil Engineering Workforce Development**Grant Amount:** $252,933 About
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Contact
    
                        
                              
      
      
      EDA Program List
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Find Open Funding
    
                        
                              
      
      
      News
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Resources & Tools
 Email Form
      Your email address
 Facebook
      Twitter
      YouTube
      LinkedIn
      Instagram
 U.S. Department of Commerce
            1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Suite 71014
            Washington, DC 20230
 Accessibility
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Commerce.gov
    
                        
                              
      
      
      EDA Archives
    
                        
                              
      
      
      EDA.gov
    
                        
                                                    
      
      
      FOIA
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants.gov
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Information Quality
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Massachusetts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Operating Policies
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                              
      
      
      USA.gov