Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has been designated as a Tech Hub, which creates a network of public-private partnerships with entities throughout 16 counties in Nevada. UNR’s selection for the program both senators helped create through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Law is a recognition that Nevada has the assets, resources, and capacity to become a global leader in lithium batteries and electric vehicle innovation. This designation will also make additional funding opportunities and resources available to UNR’s Tech Hub.
“We are leading the country’s clean energy economy and I’m proud to have fought for the University of Nevada, Reno and all of Northern Nevada to be officially designated as a hub for innovation and job creation,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll continue to support collaborations like ‘The Loop’ that bolster Nevada’s entire clean energy supply chain, from lithium extraction to battery manufacturing and recycling.”
“Northern Nevada is uniquely positioned to help power our nation’s clean energy future through battery and electric vehicle innovation,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce the University of Nevada, Reno is part of a select group designated as a regional Tech Hub and is now one step closer to receiving millions of dollars in funding and resources to bolster local innovation that will create good-paying jobs. This announcement is a recognition that Nevada is a regional leader in lithium battery technology, and I’ll keep fighting to ensure Nevada is selected for the final funding award.”
“The Tech Hub at the University of Nevada, Reno and its innovative public-private partnerships will be an essential part of strengthening our economy and developing the next generation of our state’s workforce,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “This program further establishes Northern Nevada as a national leader in the development of lithium battery and electric vehicles technology.”
“The University of Nevada, Reno takes great pride in our workforce development efforts that strengthen the economic bonds across public, private and non-profit sectors,” said Brian Sandoval, President of the University of Nevada, Reno. “The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s recognition of Northern Nevada as a U.S. Regional Technology and Innovation Hub is not only a testament to our great state’s global leadership in advanced energy technology, it is a designation that will empower the University to secure federal funding allowing us to support a broad range of business creation, attraction, retention, and expansion strategies and workforce development activities designed to further build Nevada’s lithium batteries and other electric vehicle material loop.”
Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked to support Nevada’s battery supply chain and create good-paying clean energy jobs across Nevada. Since the start of her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been a proponent of renewable and sustainable energy, passing bipartisan legislation to promote Nevada’s mining and emerging battery industries and set up a sustainable critical mineral supply chain, and leading efforts in the Senate to create good-paying solar energy jobs. She wrote the battery manufacturing and recycling program that is funding numerous projects in Nevada.
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